Trainer Stats: 7th June 2012

Prescott's Horses Starting To Hit The Mark

With 4 recent winners it could be time to start following the Sir Mark Prescott horses – See who else is on Andy Newton’s hot trainers list this week…….

DONALD MCCAIN (10 winners from his last 27 runners, 37% strike-rate): There’s no let-up in the form of the McCain horses with five winners since last week’s mention, and with bundles more entered in the coming days then you can be sure they’ll be adding to their tally of 19 wins so far this season. With 153 winners last term then at this rate you get the feeling they won’t be far off 50 winners before the NH season gets going again properly in Oct/Nov and with that cushion they will be in a nice position to try and better that total. Jason Maguire (19 winners so far) continues to be their main man in the saddle having ridden all-bar-one of their recent winners (John Kington the other), and he’ll be doing his level best this season to try and challenge Richard Johnson for that second place with McCoy already on over 30 winners. They are doing far better with their hurdlers at present – 15 wins, compared to just 2 over the bigger obstacles and 2 NH Flat successes, while they are also 2 from just 7 on the level too, with one of those wins being the lucrative Chester Cup last month.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Uttoxeter (35 from 217, 16%), Wetherby (24 from 96, 25%), Market Rasen (11 from 72, 15%), Hexham (14 from 91, 15%), Chester (3 from 10, 30%), Perth (8 from 33, 24%), Pontefract (no runners)

SIR MARK PRESCOTT (4 winners from his last 11 runners, 36% strike-rate): The Heath House stable was flagged up last week as there were clear signs that they were about to hit top gear, and with a 7/1 Epsom winner last Friday and another at Chepstow on Monday then they didn’t let us down. In fact 7 of their last 9 runners have finished third or better, and despite these winners only putting them on 5 successes for the season, they’ve only had 15 runners in total. If past seasons are anything to go by then you can expect to see a lot more of their runners this month and with the horses clearly in cracking form too then you can expect plenty of winners too. We all know the yard like to run up sequences with those they feel are still out of the handicapper’s reach and the latest to fall into that category is Athenian – who has now two-from-two in just a week. Jockey Luke Morris is getting the bulk of the rides at the moment and has been on all-bar-one of their recent winners (Chris Catlin on the other). With 50+ winners in all-bar-two of their last 20 seasons then this is another reason to think that the next few months will yield plenty of winners. Keep a special lookout for any 3 year-old they send to Catterick later this week – they are 6 from 15 in with that age group at the track.
Upcoming entries and track stats: (Newmarket (July) (2 from 13, 15%), Catterick (7 from 32 22%), Leopardstown (0 from 1), Goodwood (2 from 17, 12%), Doncaster (2 from 15, 13%), Newcastle (2 from 14, 14%)

JONJO O’NEILL (9 winners from his last 26 runners, 35% strike-rate): No easing up in the Jonjo stable with another four winners since I mentioned them last week. Okay, so a large chunk of theirs go off as favourite or short in the betting – mainly because a certain AP McCoy is also riding the majority of them, but this has also been a good guide to their chances at the moment – 7 of their last 11 to go off as the market leader have won. Richie McLernon, who finished runner-up in this year’s Grand National, has been getting his chances too with two recent winners, while don’t be too put off if you see the fast-improving Maurice Linehan riding either – he popped up on an 8/1 winner towards the end of last month. Remarkably this puts them on 18 for the season, while 62% of their 61 runners so far have managed to finish fourth or better. With a bit more rain in the air this week this will help keep the summer jumping ground on the softer side of good for the NH yards, and, therefore, you suspect there could be at least another few weeks of winners as the yard run some of those that have recently won again. Keep a close eye on any chasers they send to Market Rasen this week – they are 19 from 74 (26%).
Upcoming entries and track stats: Market Rasen (30 from 168, 18%), Worcester (38 from 177, 21%), Perth (0 from 2)

WILLIAM HAGGAS (11 winners from his last 31 runners, 35% strike-rate): No luck for the Haggas team at Epsom last week after holding leading chances in the Oaks and Coronation Cup, but take that away and they have still sent out four more winners over the past 7 days. Keep a close eye if any of his are fancied in the betting as 8 of their last 12 to be sent off favourite have won, and with 27 winners for the season then they are well on their way to bettering their 2008 tally of 86 – their best yet. They’ve are currently 1-from-2 with their 2 year-olds, but a massive 19 of their 27 successes this term have been with their 3 year-olds. Looking ahead they do very well at Chester, especially with their 2 year-olds (5 from 7), but also make note of anything they send up to Newcastle on Saturday as they are 8 from just 21 in Geordieland.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Newmarket (July) (12 from 101, 12%), Goodwood (7 from 52, 13%), Doncaster (12 from 74, 16%), Chester (9 from 27, 33%), Windsor (9 from 41, 22%), Newcastle (8 from 21, 38%)

GARY MOORE (6 winners from his last 18 runners, 33% strike-rate): With three winners at his local track, Brighton, another up at Yarmouth, plus winners at Fontwell & Kempton on Wednesday then the Moore camp are certainly worth a second glance at present. This puts this dual-purpose yard on 12 flat runners for the season and three so far over the sticks. But, although we should be keeping an eye out for any jumpers, it’s their flat runners that we are likely to see more of in the coming months. They bagged 42 winners last term on the level and apart from a huge year in 2008, when they notched 88 successes, they generally operate around the 40-50 mark. 51 of their 107 flat runners have finished fourth or better this season, while you can expect the bulk of their winners to come from their older horses. Jockey George Baker has been on all four of their recent flat successes, but obviously note anything son Ryan rides too – he rode their Kempton winner on Wednesday. In the coming months look out for any flat runners at Leicester (31%) and Nottingham (43%) – both tracks often do well at.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Lingfield (10 from 57, 18%), Sandown (3 from 83, 4%), Market Rasen (1 from 12, 8%), Goodwood (7 from 156, 4%), Worcester (2 from 8, 25%), Windsor (8 from 95, 8%), Folkestone (3 from 40, 8%)

DAVID BARRON (8 winners from his last 26 runners, 31% strike-rate): In fact all of these recent winners have come within the last week, while 10 of their last 17 sent to post have finished third or better. Yes, this yard excel with their sprinters, and so far are 2 from 8 with their juveniles. Jockey Graham Gibbons gets the bulk of the rides for the stable, but they are using Luke McNiff more and more (won on Bosun Breese on Tuesday) – his 5lb claim is a valuable asset. Their best ever total for the season is 76 (2006), but they’ve also managed to achieve a + level stakes profit in 4 of the last 6 seasons and being on +£24 so far this campaign are well on their way to improving that record.  As the season moves on keep a look out for any 2 year-olds they run on the fibresand at Southwell – they are 8 from 20 there. They introduced an exciting juvenile in Ahern to win on his debut last week and he could be Royal Ascot bound, however, on a negative note it’s worth pointing out they are currently 0-from-24 at the Berkshire venue.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Doncaster (8 from 70, 11%), Newmarket (July) (3 from 20, 15%), Chester (2 from 15, 13%), Newcastle (7 from 77, 9%)

MEL BRITTAIN (3 winners from his last 10 runners, 30% strike-rate): 9 of their last 10 runners have finished third or better, and when these smaller yards do start to hit some form it can often pay to ride along with them. Yes, that’s only 5 for the season now, but they only sent out 11 in the whole of 2011. 29 in 2008 was their best yet and it’s unlikely they will better that this season, but with all of their runners of late running out of their skins I suspect they can grab at least a few more winners in the coming weeks. Of their five winners, 3 have actually been with their 2 year-olds, while make a note of any 4+year-olds they send to Beverley – they are currently 13 from just 45 (29%) there. Musselburgh (21%) and Haydock (19%) are other tracks they’ve been lucky at, especially look out for any 2 year-olds at Haydock as they are 3 from just 6 in that age group at the Merseyside course. On a negative note with runners entered up at Newcastle later this week, for those that like the track stats it could be worth knowing they are currently 0 from 78 there!
Upcoming entries and track stats: Newcastle (0 from 78), Pontefract (2 from 39, 5%)

GEOFF HARKER (3 winners from his last 12 runners, 25% strike-rate): Not one of the better known yards, but with three winners, including a 16/1 shot, in the last few days then it’s clear to see their horses are going well. Based in North Yorkshire the yard are now on six winners for the season, as they steam towards bettering their last two year’s totals of 18 and 17. Most of their runners, and winners, will be with their older horses as they often pick up other trainer’s cast-offs – most notably the former Mark Johnston-trained Tartan Gigha who won up at Carlisle in facile fashion on Monday. Although the bulk of his runners are on the level this former jump jockey does also like to keep his toe in over the sticks, but be warned he’s only bagged 4 winners from his last 145 NH runners.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Catterick (16 from 85, 19%)

TIM VAUGHAN (10 winners from his last 38 runners, 26% strike-rate): This is a yard really on the up in my opinion. Okay, so they might lack the horses at the very top end of the scale that will see them challenge Henderson and Nicholls when we get to October/November, but I suspect those better quality horses will come in time when the leading owners start to take notice. In Richard Johnson they also have the services of the second best pilot in the business, and after breaking the 100 barrier (102) last season then you can expect more of the same as they are already on 18 from just 68 runners. 11 of their 18 wins have come with their hurdlers, but with 7 winners from just 16 runners over fences this term they are showing a better strike-rate with their chasers.  Two more winners over at Ffos Las on Bank Holiday Tuesday, while with 25 of their last 38 runners (66%) finishing third or better then their good form is there for all to see. Plenty to look out for in the coming days, including some entered on the flat up at Bath.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Market Rasen (17 from 99, 17%), Bath (0 from 2), Hexham (5 from 24, 21%), Worcester (25 from 139, 18%)

JONATHAN PORTMAN (3 winners from his last 13 runners, 23% strike-rate): In fact 14 of his last 19 runners have finished fifth or better and despite being another small yard they did show signs with 23 winners last term that they could be in for another good season. Okay, so they are only on 5 successes so far, but they had just over 250 runners in 2011 and with only 62 so far are some way off that. They use an array of jockeys, with Lee Newman just about edging it with 6 recent rides, but the way their Lily In Pink won at Chepstow on Monday suggests she could be a horse to follow next time.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Goodwood (3 from 49, 6%), Bath (6 from 83, 7%), Windsor (6 from 99, 6%), Newmarket (July) (3 from 21, 14%)

SIR MICHAEL STOUTE (5 winners from his last 22 runners, 23% strike-rate): These figures are actually a bit better than they look with four of his recent successes coming in the last week or so – with Carlton House (should now head to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes next) landing the Brigadier Gerard last Thursday a big highlight. With all of bar one their last 10 runners also finishing third or better this further backs up the good form of the yard, and with Royal Ascot in a few weeks their timing looks spot on. They had their worst season for many a year with just 53 winners last term, but it only takes a slightly below batch of 2-3 year-olds and this kind of thing can happen to the big yards from time to time. It might take them a season or two to recover, but they are too big an outfit for that not to happen and if the last few weeks are anything to go by the signs are there that the good times might not be too far away again. They’ve only had 2 juvenile runners so far this season, without joy, but with 12 of their 14 winners coming with their 3 year-olds this is a further encouraging sign. If they send any 3 year-olds to Newcastle this week take note – they are 3 from 8 (38%) with that age group at the track.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Newmarket (July) (13 from 105, 12%), Bath (4 from 18, 22%), Doncaster (9 from 64, 14%), Windsor (22 from 95, 23%), Newcastle (3 from 12, 25%)

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