Aloomomo

Aloomomo ran a nice race to finish third in the two-mile-five-and-a-half-furlong novices' hurdle that opened proceedings at Ascot last Saturday.

Warren Greatrex's horse travelled well through the early stages of the race towards the rear of the field and along the inside. His jumping was big though, typical of a horse who had run over fences or who had been schooled over fences. He didn't make mistakes, but he was spending time in the air. He wasn't as neat and nimble as a fluent hurdler is, and he was expending energy unnecessarily. He came under a ride over the third last flight as the pace quickened, but he got right up in behind the leaders as they rounded the home turn, and he looked a real threat on the run to the second last. He just couldn't go with Elegant Escape and favourite Laser Light from there, as lack of a recent run probably took its toll against rivals who had had a run. Even so, he kept on nicely to retain third place.

This was a nice start to the season for the Tirwanako gelding. He has had plenty of experience over hurdles now, but he is a better chaser, and he will be of interest now when he goes back over fences. Probably at his best on a flat, galloping track, he goes well on soft ground, he stays at least two miles and six furlongs and he could improve for a step up to three miles. He will be of interest now returned to chasing, with this run under his belt. He does jump fences a little to his right, so a move to fences on a right-handed track would be ideal, but soft ground is probably more important than a right-handed track. His most impressive performance was on soft ground at Newbury last November. That said, he did not run badly in the Close Brothers Chase, over two and a half miles on goodish ground at the Cheltenham Festival in March, so he would be of interest if he returned there for the December Gold Cup, especially if the ground came up soft.

19^th November 2016

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