Alnofoor 

Alnofoor did well to finish as close as he did in the six-furlong maiden at The Curragh on Saturday evening, keeping on well on the near side from his high draw to take sixth place behind Heavenly Power.  Settled just behind the leaders and on the stands side of the main body of the field early on by Gavin Ryan, he was caught a little flat-footed when they quickened at the two-furlong marker.  Moved to his left a little on the run to the furlong marker in order to secure a clear passage, he stayed on well through the final 200 yards.  He moved from about 10th or 11th 200 yards out to sixth by the time they got to the winning line, beaten a total of just over three lengths.

Natalia Lupini’s colt did best of the high-drawn horses in Saturday’s race, racing towards the stands side from stall 19, on an evening on which it may have been a disadvantage to race towards the near side.  The five horses who finished in front of Alnofoor were all drawn 10 or lower, and the first six home in the 17-runner five-furlong handicap that brought the curtain down on the evening’s racing were drawn in the six lowest stalls. Alnofoor has raced just four times now, and this was probably the best run of his life.  He finished fourth behind Gyldan and Jon Riggens, who was an impressive winner next time when he beat the winner of Saturday’s race Heavenly Power, and Swift Flight, who finished third in Saturday’s race, in a five-furlong maiden at Tipperary in early June on his previous run, racing towards the far side.  This was his first run back after a short break, and he should be able to continue his progression.  He obviously handles soft ground well, he stays six furlongs well and, from the family of Dylan Thomas and Homecoming Queen and Remember When, he could do even better over further.
The Curragh, 21^st August 2021