Greatrex out to bag late Christmas present as Aloomomo returns to fences

2.10 Wetherby188Bet Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase l Grade 3 l 3m l 4yo+ | RUK

Warren Greatrex is out to win the post-Christmas feature in West Yorkshire for the second time in three runnings with Aloomomo, who is back over fences for the first time in more than a year.

The Lambourn trainer sprang a 14-1 surprise with Dolatulo in this in 2014 but his latest hopeful is likely to be more to the fore in the betting after a pair of encouraging outings over hurdles of late.

Still only seven, Aloomomo was prolific over fences in 2015 when racking up a hat-trick but picked up an injury when falling four out in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last December.

After a spell on the sidelines he has quietly been getting back into shape and ran an honest race to chase home the useful Station Master over three miles at Southwell last time.

Richard Johnson, who was in the saddle that day, shuns the bright lights of Kempton to renew the association, and Greatrex is hopeful of keeping his good run going.

He said: "Aloomomo broke his shoulder when falling at Cheltenham last year so it’s been a long road back. He has eased himself back into it with two good runs over hurdles.

"He's a far better chaser than a hurdler and is down in the weights so goes there with a decent chance."

Baywing and Ryan Day head for victory in the Towton Novices' Chase in FebruaryCredit: System

Nicky Richards has yet to cut much ice in a race his father Gordon won with General Pershing in 1993 but appears to have a live chance of breaking his duck with Baywing, who has winning form at the track.

The master of Greystoke is hoping his eight-year-old gets further than he did at Haydock last time when he capsized at the first, and has left no stone unturned in order to put matters right.

He said: "Baywing has decent form at Wetherby, as he won the Towton there last season, although the handicapper took a fair bite out of him for it.

"Unfortunately he didn't get very far at Haydock, since when he's done plenty of schooling, and he may even get some more before Boxing Day. Hopefully, if he jumps round and they get the bit of rain they say is forecast, we'll be in business."

Pam Sly likes a winner at Wetherby and the in-form Cambridgeshire-based trainer relies on Actinpieces, another previous course winner and who had a valid excuse for disappointing at Newbury last time.

She said: "Actinpieces won well over course and distance first time out but came back into the paddock with her tail in the air after disappointing at Newbury last time so we knew she was in season.

"She seems fine now and we're just hoping she can finish in the first three so she can get some valuable black type."

Sue Smith, who won this with Cloudy Too in 2013, fields two this time, with last year's runner-up Wakanda joining stablemate Delusionofgrandeur, who returned to winning ways at Catterick last month.

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