Tuesday, 17th May 2022
Aberama Gold ran 20 times on the turf flat and the AW – without a significant break – between June 2020 and July 2021….
He won three times during that period (twice on the AW and once on turf) hitting a career-high mark of 103….
He was gelded at that point and after a break from the action lasting 177 days he returned to the track for an AW campaign in December 2021 – running four times and producing absolutely nothing of note….
There was obviously a persistent problem – evidenced by the fact that he was fitted with a first-time tongue-tie in the last of those races….
Despite the headgear he finished 6th of 6 in the race – beaten 9.5 lengths over 6f – and trainer Keith Dalgleish took the decision to give the horse a wind-operation….
It appears to have done the 5yo good. Last week at York he was 5th of the 22 that went to post for the Churchill Tyres Handicap – beaten just 2.25 lengths….
That was as competitive a performance as Aberama Gold has produced for some time – and it augers well for his immediate future….
Especially as he’s dropped to an official mark of 87 (down a pound for last week’s performance) – a mark 5lb lower than his last winning mark on turf (produced in a handicap) and a whopping 14lbs lower than his last winning AW mark….
I mark last week’s performance up slightly on the basis that he was just about 2-lengths better than any other horse running from a single-figure stall. And you’d think he’d show improvement for the run – given he’d been off for 90-days….
I wouldn’t say he’s absolutely dependent on a specific track. But if I were placing him with my life on the line then Doncaster would be prominent in my thinking. He’s run three good races there – producing form figures of 1/12; 2/16; and 2/6….
Silvestre De Sousa took the ride last week – just the second time he’s ridden the horse. On the other occasion the pair produced the win at Doncaster. It might well be a pairing that bears fruit again further down the line….
De Sousa is a free agent this year – and will be available for more rides than would have been the case in recent seasons. It was his first ride this term for Dalgleish. And maybe the booking signified some intent to give the horse is optimum set-up….
Given Aberama Gold’s competitive mark, his return to form and his fitness levels with a run under his belt, it is a pairing I’ll be looking out for in the weeks ahead….
David O’Meara’s Summerghand was another horse that bounced back to something like form in that same York handicap over the 6f trip….
He’d had a pretty miserable time of it in 2022 – producing three uncompetitive performances from three goes in Meydan in the early part of the year and following up with another poor go on seasonal debut at Newmarket….
At York he was different again – finishing 6th of the 22 beaten 3.5 lengths and hitting a three-figure RPR for the first time since September last year….
Perhaps he needed the Newmarket run. More likely he’s been in serious need of some help from the handicapper….
The 2020 winner of the Stewards’ Cup has been running almost exclusively off marks of 109 to 113 since August 2020 – ever since that big Goodwood win….
His recent run of poor form had seen him fall to a mark of 103 heading into last week’s meeting . It’s surely no coincidence that he was able to produce his best performance in a while….
And there might well be more to come in the weeks ahead. With no shortage of valuable handicap pots to shoot at, David O’Meara’s charge is now rated 101 – the handicapper dropping him 2lbs on the back of last week’s effort….
If I were David O’Meara, I’d be clapping my hands. A mark of 101 puts Summerghand firmly back in business. It’s the same mark from which he ran 2nd of 22 in the 2020 Wokingham at Royal Ascot before following up with his Stewards’ Cup win off 108….
I expect Summerghand to capitalise off his revised mark and to land another big handicap pot at some point this summer. Last week was a case of a horse serving notice….
What’s The Story might be an 8yo this season but he was rated as high as 106 as recently as this time last year….
And last week – running off a mark of 97 – he produced an eye-catching performance in the Hambleton Handicap where he finished 4th of 13 and beaten 2-lengths….
This despite being drawn wider than the other principal finishers (in stall 12)…. this despite running three wide around the turn…. and this despite running into daylight almost all the way round….
At his very best Keith Dalgleish’s charge rated 108. Most likely he won’t rate that high again. But off his current mark of 97 he is very much in business….
In five goes in mile handicaps off marks in the 90s, he’s won once and only once failed to produce a competitive performance. Something can surely be found for him at some point this summer….
He’s 3 from 22 in handicaps overall. So not a serial winner. But he’s not helped by the fact that he needs a big field to produce his best – evidenced by the fact he’s never run in a handicap with less than 11 runners. Seventeen of his handicap runs have come in fields of 15+….
There’s no doubt York is his track – six of his seven best RPRs in handicaps were registered there (over a mile and 10f) – and that preference for the track would no doubt have assisted his cause last week….
He’ll get plenty more opportunities to shine at that venue as the season progresses. If he holds his form, he’s going to be dangerous off his current mark – despite his advancing years….
Keep track of the progress made by handicappers featured in the ATC column here – double click on horse names to revisit my comments….
That’s all for today. More to come tomorrow. Meanwhile….
Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Stay tuned.
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