Al Ferof

You can easily forgive Al Ferof for finishing just fourth in the Arkle Trophy, after he had made a bad mistake at the last ditch – you can’t make a mistake like that in an Arkle and hope to remain competitive. Given that, there was a lot to like about the manner in which he stayed on up the hill to close the gap between himself and third-placed Menorah from six lengths at the last fence to three lengths at the line.

It was always likely that the two-mile trip of the Arkle was going to be short of Al Ferof’s best. Although he won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, and although his first two victories over fences this term have been over the minimum trip, he will almost certainly be seen to better effect now over further over fences. He is a classy and progressive individual who jumps fences efficiently, and he could be a horse for the Manifesto Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree. Longer term, he would be an interesting King George contender next December.

13th March 2012

© The Sunday Times, 25th March 2012