Thomas considers Haydock and Ascot for Steel Ally comeback
Dual Grade Two-winning novice is to try his hand over further this season.
Sam Thomas will step Steel Ally up in trip this season in the belief the gelding could get to the top over longer distances.
The eight-year-old was a smart novice last season, winning two Grade Two events as he rattled up an early season hat-trick over the larger obstacles.
A well-beaten fifth in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival on his final appearance, Thomas feels that his gelding has never been a natural two-miler and that going at a slightly easier pace over further could unlock plenty more.
“He is in a good place. We have him in the Betfair Chase at Haydock over three miles and the Ascot race (Ladbrokes 1965 Chase on November 21), which might be a target. I think he will stay three miles but it might be good to start him off over a bit shorter,” said Thomas.
“Looking back at last season I think we did well with him to win over two. He has never really shown us at home he is an out and out two-miler – he could never really work with our good two-mile horses at home.
“For me he has always suggested he wants a bit further so he did really well to do what he did in those first three races last year over two. Probably his jumping was the main reason he was able to win those races.
“Over further he will find things so much easier as he is a strong travelling type. Potentially that does make him an exciting proposition this year. If he can find things that bit easier going that gear slower over a further trip he could be very exciting and there could be more to come.”
He went on: “The chinks in the armour were more exposed in the Arkle because he is not a real two-miler if I’m honest, and he was going two gears too quick for him all the way and paid the price at the end.
“But it is going to stand him in really good stead this season because he learned so much by going that bit quicker over two miles in top quality races that when he does step up hopefully he will find it easier.”