The trainer has his string in excellent form and saddles two fancied runners at Chepstow next weekend
S
am Thomas has his string in excellent form going into the busy Christmas programme and he saddled his fourth winner from only seven runners in December as Steel Ally registered an impressive success in the Grade Two Noel Novice Chase at Ascot on Friday.
Steel Ally was the 11-4 third-favourite in a field of five runners but was travelling and jumping well from the off for Dylan Johnston, his jockey. No Questions Asked, the 7-5 favourite, briefly threatened to mount a challenge as he moved closer at the third-last but Steel Ally was clear by the second-last and eventually crossed the line nine lengths ahead of Push The Button (12-1).
The Noel Novice Chase is staged over two miles and nearly three furlongs, and Steel Ally is quoted at around 33-1 for the Arkle Trophy Novice Chase, over two miles, on the opening day of next year’s Cheltenham Festival.
