Alien Storm

What makes Alien Storm genuinely interesting is how specialized his form has become. At Plumpton, he is practically unbeatable: four wins from nine races there means he wins roughly one in every 2.25 races at that track, a rate that stands far above his overall 17% win rate. He has a clear preference for slightly soft or muddy ground too, winning at a 33% rate when conditions are damp — one win from every three races — but struggled badly at Kempton over Christmas when the ground was too soft and heavy for his liking. His best performances come at distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, where he has won one of three races, and in Class 4 races, though his win rate there is modest at one win per five and a half races.

David Bass has been his most successful jockey, winning three of ten rides together — a 30% win rate that is significantly better than Alien Storm's overall form. The trainer has been quietly optimistic about the horse's prospects in softer conditions come spring, noting that he learns from his runs and has been given a small weight drop by the handicapper. With a yard sending out 31 winners this season, Longsdon clearly knows how to keep his horses competitive, and Alien Storm's obvious love for Plumpton and moderately soft ground gives him genuine chances to add to his tally.