Trainer Trends 25th Aug

Tim Vaughan has sent out 15 winners in recent days, backed up by a four-timer at Fontwell last week, but which other trainers are hitting the high notes at the moment? Andy Newton takes you though his weekly hot list……

 

 

Some highlights from last week’s spotlighted trainers………………

Roger Charlton: Not as good as the week before but a 5/1 success at Sandown last Friday means his current excellent strike-rate is still intact.

Michael Bell: Well, well, well! Mr Bell certainly did us proud again thanks to Her Majesty’s Set To Music romping to an 8/1 win on the Knavesmire, while Margot Did, who we highlighted in their forthcoming entries, did the business at a whopping 20/1 in the Nunthorpe.

William Haggas: Not only did he celebrate his 51st birthday this week, but since we mentioned him last week he’s also bagged another four winners – the highlights being Green Destiny (11/4), who landed the Strensall Stakes, and Groomed (10/1) at Sandown last Friday.

Mahmood Al Zarooni: He’s only had 6 runners since last week, but three of those were winners – most notably Blue Bunting (11/4), Parlour Games (9/1) and Opinion Poll (3/1) who all made it a week to remember for the boys in blue at York.

Marco Botti: Again, not had many out but a 3/1 winner at Wolverhampton last week from just six runners, while they had three placed on Wednesday night – all signs that back up the Botti team being in great heart.

This Week’s Featured Hot Trainers……

TIM WALFORD (4 winners from his last 7 runners, 57% strike-rate) – A name we’ve not seen on here since I started this feature but with 18/1, 11/2, 4/1 and 7/2 winners from just his last seven runners then anything they run over the next few days should be noted. Three of those wins came over the sticks, and that’s where their runners mainly ply their trade, but one also came on the level at Carlisle so be sure to keep a close eye on entries for both disciplines. His son Robert Walford has been on his last two winners, while looking ahead they’ve got a few heading to Carlisle on Thursday and plenty more dotted around the country on Friday and Saturday.

TIM VAUGHAN (15 winners from his last 38 runners, 39% strike-rate) – This yard have had by far the most winners in the last seven days, backed up a huge four-timer at Fontwell last Thursday night. Jockey Richard Johnson has been on all bar 4 of those recent winners and although it’s no secret to the bookmakers that they are in such scintillating form they still popped up with an 8/1 winner on Sunday. Too many entries coming up to mention them all (click on trainers name to see them all), but what I would say is pay close attention to any horses that have multiple engagements. Oh, and did I mention that it’s Mr Vaughan’s 32nd birthday on Thursday? – surely he’ll be plotting a few more winners to celebrate his big day!

PATRICK CHAMINGS (3 winners from his last 8 runners, 38% strike-rate) – Another name we’ve not seen on here before, but despite their limited runners the Chamings team are operating on an eye-catching strike-rate at the moment. Add in that their three recent winners returned 9/2, 9/1 and 14/1 then they are also showing a monster level stakes profit too. Interestingly 6 of their last 8 ran over 7f, while all 3 winners came over that trip too – maybe they know something others don’t over this unique distance! You’ll have to wait until Saturday and Sunday to find their next runners, but they are well represented with interests at Goodwood, Newmarket and Windsor.

MICHAEL BELL (3 winners from his last 8 runners, 38% strike-rate) – With 42 winners from their 234 runners this season then the yard are currently hitting an 18% strike-rate, while at the moment with a further 54 of their runners finishing second or third then if you back one of their horses there’s a 41% chance it will hit the frame at worse. Obviously Margot Did’s 20/1 Nunthorpe victory was a huge highlight from last week and even if they don’t have another winner all season they will be dining out on that one for some time yet. It’s no secret that Hayley Turner and Jamie Spencer get the majority of the stable rides, but it was interesting that they used Joseph O’Brien on the well-fancied Tactician in last week’s Ebor.

MICHAEL SCUDAMORE (3 winners from his last 8 runners, 38% strike-rate) – As we draw closer to the NH season kicking in proper it goes without saying that we’ll be seeing more and more jumps handlers on the hot list, but it looks as if some are getting their strings in good order already. Three winners from just their last 8 runners suggest things are all tickety-boo at the Herefordshire yard and with Tom back in action then expect him to be getting the leg-up on most of theirs. In terms of entries they will be firing a few more ‘scuds’ (did you see what I did there?) on Saturday at Cartmel, plus they have a few heading to Warwick and Chepstow (flat) on Bank Holiday Monday.

PETER CHAPPLE-HYAM (4 winners from his last 11 runners, 36% strike-rate) – The former Derby winning handler doesn’t have anywhere near the quality of horses that he used to but he’s still a class act and with 6/1, 4/1 and 22/1 winners amongst his recent haul then don’t be put off if one of his goes off at a price. In terms of jockeys he’s used Jimmy Fortune the most in recent weeks, but ironically he’s not been on any of those recent winners. Also it might be nothing but their only two runners that ran beyond a mile both won (1m2f). Plenty of entries to get involved with, but it could be significant that Sand Owl has no fewer than four engagements from Thursday to Saturday.

ROGER CHARLTON (7 winners from his last 22 runners, 32% strike-rate) – A run of four straight wins a few weeks ago cemented his current strike-rate, so although they did have another 5/1 success last Friday a tiny word of caution is attached to their runners. Yes, they are still running well, but when you hit the heights that the Charlton team did a few weeks ago then unfortunately the only way is down and they could be still living off that excellent run – I hope I’m wrong! They already amassed more total prize money than last season, but are actually still 17 winners off last terms final tally of 48. Again plenty of entries for them to try and maintain their form, with Primevere and Definightly, who are both heading to the Curragh on Sunday, the possible highlights.

MARCO BOTTI (5 winners from his last 17 runners, 29% strike-rate) – The Botti team need just 4 more winners to overtake last season’s tally of 35 winners, while this term they are already operating on a much better wins-to-runs strike-rate (18%). Excelebration is their stable star and who knows if he hadn’t been racing in the same generation as the mighty Frankel then we could all be hailing him a superstar. Adam Kirby gets most of the stable rides, so keep an eye on anything he mounts in the coming days, and with plenty heading around the country on Friday and over the Bank Holiday weekend then it will be a shock if they can ‘t grab another winner or two over the next few days. There three runners at Wolverhampton all hit the frame too.

MAHMOOD AL ZAROONI (7 winners from his last 26 runners, 27% strike-rate) – They’ve already topped last season’s win tally with 44 successes this term and many people think that it’s only a matter of time before they are regarded as the bigger of the two Godolphin outfits. Three high-profile York winners last week further enhanced his growing profile, while this season they are showing a monster +£116 level stakes profit if you’d backed all their 233 runners! No big names on show in the next few days but they do have plenty of runners at nearby Newmarket on Friday.

WILLIAM HAGGAS (8 winners from his last 34 runners, 24% strike-rate) – It wouldn’t be a hot trainers list without giving Mr. Haggas a mention and after the wins of Green Destiny and Entifaadha at York last week then the yard are now only 4 wins short of last terms total of 59. Like I mentioned last week they are currently operating on a huge 54% place strike-rate with 144 of their 265 runners hitting the frame. Untold entries on the horizon, so click on the trainers name for more details, but Map Of Heaven could be interested having engagements at both Brighton and Newcastle on Friday.

*Note* – Click on a trainers name to see their upcoming entries

This week’s featured cold trainers………

AMANDA PERRETT (59 days and 60 runners without a winner) – We are fast approaching two months now without a victory for the West Sussex based trainer and with 60 runners having tried to break this barren spell then things must be getting a bit tense back at the yard. Yes, 6 of their last 18 have finished either second of third, so you could say they’ve been a shade unlucky but they’ve should have enough fire power within the stable not to have gone almost two months without a win – especially as they normally do so well at Glorious Goodwood – and until there’s a clear sign of change then be wary of their runners for now.

PHILIP HOBBS (52 days and 26 runners without a winners) – Okay, this powerful NH yard have only had 26 runners over the last month and a half and it’s not going to be long before we start to see some of the yards bigger names on the track. That said, they had a well-fancied 8/11 shot turned over at Worcester on Wednesday and it could just be that the Hobbs runners are needing their runs at present, however, with plenty entered on Thursday and over the weekend they’ve got plenty of opportunities to get off the cold list – just one to keep an eye on for now.