Tombi

Tombi ran a cracker from an unfavourable draw to finish sixth in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday. The result of the Bronze Cup on the Friday and of the Silver Cup earlier on the Saturday provided fairly conclusive evidence that you wanted to be drawn low in the Gold Cup, or at least race on the far side, with the result that all but eight of the 26 runners raced on the far side. Tombi was drawn highest of all, stall 27 of the 27 declared runners, so he really didn't have the option of racing on the far side. Frederik Tylicki was hard at work on Howard Johnson's horse before they reached half way, which was probably understandable for a horse who gets seven furlongs in a race in which they traditionally go hell for leather from early, and it looked unlikely that he would be involved in the finish of the race at all, but he responded well and picked up nicely from a furlong and a half out, availing of the gap that appeared on the near rail when Fol Hollow rolled off it, to get up and win the race on the near side, getting the better of a group that included the well-fancied and well-backed Redford. This was one of the best performances of Tombi's life, he is obviously in good heart now, trainer Howard Johnson's horses are in good form, and he will be interesting wherever he goes next as long as he has good or fast ground. He is effective at seven furlongs, but a fast-run six is probably his ideal.

19th September 2009

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