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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Aliym shows his mettle in the bumper

Sun 6th Jan 2019, 16:27

Aliym, far side, holds on from Top MoonAliym, far side, holds on from Top Moon
© Photo Healy Racing

Aliym fended off Top Moon at the end of the two mile baumper in Naas to score for handler Harry Kelly.

There was plenty of chat over some of the nine unraced horses who lined up for this contest but Aliym wasn't one of the market fancies as he went off at 20/1.

He made good headway to collar well-backed Fumet D'Oudairies with over two furlongs to travel.

He was then ridden to go for home approaching the final furlong but soon faced a challenge from the staying-on Top Moon.

Aliym stuck to his guns as Top Moon (11/8f) kept closing but there was a short head in it at the line. Zambezir came in three lengths further back in third at 10/3.

Jockey Paul Cawley (25), who rode his fifth winner under rules, said: "He's a nice type of horse. He's still very raw and there should be loads of improvement in him."

Today's attendance, which was one of the best at the track in recent times, was 5,610.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.