Snooker McCrew

The horse seems to have found his level and his distance. Snoozer runs best over a mile and a bit—at distances between 1m1f and 1m2f, he has won three of seven races, nearly a 43% win rate. That is genuinely strong. His trainer, Max Comley, based at Warminster, describes him as a slow learner who was raw and green through his early races, particularly when he finished fifth at Newbury while still finding his feet over shorter distances. An incident at Bath that left him nearly pulling up clearly marked a significant setback, but the move up in distance and the recent wins suggest Comley has now cracked what Snoozer needs. The horse stands at 17 hands—exceptionally tall—and has the pedigree to match: he is out of a very good Pivotal mare, which speaks to some quality in his bloodline. Comley believes he is probably best suited to a mile, though he could handle ten furlongs if asked.

One minor concern is his record in the better-class races: he has not won any of his four attempts at Class 5 level, suggesting there may be a ceiling to what he can achieve. But at lower levels and over his preferred distance, Snoozer has shown he belongs. With Liam Keniry his regular pilot and the yard sending out winners at a steady clip this season, there is reason to think this recent victory at Beverley might be the start of something rather than a flash in the pan.