Cobolobo

Cobolobo did well to finish second in the three-mile handicap chase at Ascot on Saturday. There was plenty of potential pace in the race, and Jonjo O’Neill’s horse made all the running to win on his previous run at Exeter, so it wasn’t surprising that he was involved in the early battle for the lead.
It was a battle that he ultimately ceded to De Forgotten One, but he just settled in behind that rival in second place early on, with the front pair a little way clear of the rest of the field. He remained in second place until the ultimate winner Enqarde moved up on his outside at the third last fence and relegated him to third, and it looked like he would weaken from there, but he stuck to his task well. He moved back into second place at the second last fence as De Forgotten One weakened and, while it never looked like he was going to get to Enqarde, he kept on well to retain second place, ahead of Crossley Tender and Yalltari.

It was another good run by Jonjo O’Neill’s horse, racing off a mark of 128, 8lb higher than the mark off which he won at Exeter on his previous outing. He was ridden forward that day in his first-time cheekpieces, and that is a combination that seems to suit him well. He will be of interest again now, cheekpieces retained, perhaps at a track that favours prominent racers and ideally when he doesn’t have too much competition for the early lead.
Ascot, 23^rd January 2021