Averroes

Averroes put in a good performance to finish third in a competitive 10-furlong handicap at Beverley on Saturday, and his turn does not look far off now. He was held well off the pace by rider Luke Morris, a pace that was strong set by the front-running Aattash. Not many got into it until late on and Averroes was under pressure early enough, but he stayed on best of all up the straight, and he probably would have finished a lot closer had he not had to weave his way through runners until the final furlong. He looks to be crying out for further now.

Clive Cox’s colt looked worth following after his seasonal debut, when he was a really good second to Verdant at Sandown, but he has had a slightly frustrating season since. He needs to be held up in his races, and that has got him into trouble sometimes, he had little luck in-running at Chester when he finished second to Alrasm and his run at Goodwood two runs prior to this can be excused as he broke a blood vessel. On his previous run at Goodwood, he was well-backed and he put up a good performance to finish fourth, coming from well off the pace. His effort here was another good one. He would be interesting now if he was tried again over 12 furlongs, he shaped like he would benefit from stepping up in trip, and his only previous effort over that trip came when he was unlucky on that run at Chester. This was only his eighth run, so there could be more improvement to come. There could be a decent handicap in him off his current mark of 90.

28th August 2010