The 3yo is upgraded to individual case study status due more to the fact that his career to date contradicts the normal patterns and trends followed by the yards horses, that provide us with highly profitable returns year in year out.
Owned by the highly successful Ms Fiona Carmichael, the Showcasing colt is out of Keegsquaw who reached a rating of 102 racing solely in France. The best of her form being on soft ground over trips at around 10f.
The best Showcasing sired horse trained by the yard was Tasleet rated 119 but he was sprint bred with the dam Bird Key sired by Cadeaux Genereux performing at his best over 6f on soft and fast ground.
It’s not easy to find Showcasing horses sired by mares with an emphasis on stamina that achieve ratings into the 90’s and it is no surprise on reflection that the yard planned a campaign over trips short of a mile.
Given a typical education run on its debut over 6f at Newcastle in November 2023 he was then gelded and didn’t return to the track until September 24 when winning a small Chepstow maiden beating a 75 rated opponent in a tight finish under tender handling. The handicap mark of 76 looked ok given the expected improvement, and when put into a 0-75 handicap at Catterick over 7f on soft ground which on its breeding looked sure to suit we recommended a 2pt bet. The horse was withdrawn due to unsuitable soft ground. However just 5 days later was declared to run over 6f on SOFT ground in a grade 5 handicap at Pontefract. Given the circumstances we took a wait and see policy only for the gelding under Danny Tudhope to win unchallenged at a well backed 6/4 favourite for which the handicapper gave the gelding a hefty 12lb ratings rise to a mark of 87.
The Pontefract race has proven to be an especially weak event with none of the beaten horses able to come close to winning even off reduced marks. The one exception Cash In winning an exceptionally weak 4 runner maiden at Newcastle at odds of 11/10.
Upped to a grade 3 handicap at Doncaster meeting rivals with proven form at listed and group level Altmore opened in the market as 11/10 favourite. Fortunately, a price far too short for betting considerations. Most of the tipsters, given the ease of the Pontefract victory, predicted a follow up win .
However in the final hours and minutes before the off, the horse drifted to as big as 5/1 and although making late headway lacked the pace for the grade eventually finishing 5th beaten by nearly 5L by Zoum Zoum.
On his latest outing he was returned to the AW at Newcastle and the market again was notable for the lack of support for the gelding. Drifting on Betfair from 5.0 to 12.0 before being supported back into 13/2
The performance was disappointing the horse travelled well held up off a good pace, but as the field of experienced handicappers quickened up Altmore was unable to cope with the hurly burly of the contest and eventually, given an easy time by Farragher in the final furling finished 9 of the 11 runners.
Today Altmore is stepped up to a mile round a bend at Kempton drawn 9 in a field 12 racing off the same mark of 87. The gelding can after today race of a mark of 85 !
It will be of great interest to see how the horse races today. Given the breeding it is likely that 7F on turf will be the optimum conditions. On what we have seen so far i suspect a further 3 or 5lb drop in the handicap will be required for Altmore to return to the winners enclosure.
At odds of 16/1 today he is a NO BET advice
Update after Kempton race:
For a long time Altmore held a possibility to spring a surprise, showing 6f speed to get into a good position from the high draw he sat in second before taking up the running before being headed by the winner ,ultimately managing to hold on to second in a 3 way photo for the minor places.
Unfortunately, this will mean the horse is likely to stay at its 85 rating probably for two or three more runs.
I will be backing the gelding in a class 4 over 7f giving weight to inferior rivals in a 0-85 Ideally in a strongly run race will see him return to the winners enclosure.
This case study horse remains of considerable interest and Altmore has scope for further improvement over 7F
Hag Tag - Diary of a Season 
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