Pompette is another two-year-old from Barbury destined for plenty of notebooks

September 5

Alan has arguably got as good a bunch of juveniles this season as he has ever had, and just two weeks after Spyce‘s hugely encouraging debut second at York’s Ebor meeting, we are heralding another potential Barbury star in Pompette, who confirmed the promise he showed first time out at Ffos Las when chasing home what looked an above-average youngster in Raaheeb at Ascot today.

There was barely a soul on the Royal Heath who by lunchtime had not heard the buzz for Raaheeb, who is a full-brother to that phenomenal six times G1 winner Baaeed.

Rossa Ryan gave Pompette a terrific ride, and when it looked as if the colt might be squeezed out in some bunching at the furlong-pole, Rossa fought his corner and managed to wriggle through the gap to launch a challenge on the stands rail.

However, Raaheeb then loomed up on the wide outside, and a couple of slaps from Jim Crowley were sufficient to wake up this sleepy but very talented individual, who readily held off Pompette by a length and a quarter.

Pompette, owned by Susannah Ricci, whose husband Rich Ricci has enjoyed so much success as an owner of jumps horses, is clearly a youngster of immense promise, and he won’t always come up against such a classy opponent as Baaeed.

So weather Alan opts to try and make it third time lucky with Pompette or put him away until next season, there is no doubt that given the rub of the green we are looking at a colt with an exciting future ahead of him.