Trainer Stats: 28th Nov 2012

‘Phil’ Your Boots With Hobbs’ Horses

The weather might be causing havoc around the country this week but Andy Newton’s still got seven trainers to look out for…..

GEORGE BAKER (5 winners from his last 9 runners, 56% strike-rate): Having a great time out it of late and with 20/1 and 10/1 winners in that recent run then their followers have certainly been cashing in. With 31 successes now for the season this still puts them a bit short of the 49 they managed in 2011, but despite being unlikely to get near that tally they have managed to already bank £4k more in total prize money than they did last term (£186k) – and that’s what really matters! They tend to use a variety of different jockeys, but Jim Crowley has ridden two winners from his last 3 rides for the yard. The final thing to look for is that they are now also having a few runners over the sticks, and so far this term they are 2-from-7 with their NH runners.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Taunton (2 from 7, 29%), Newbury (0 from 4), Wolverhampton AW (40 from 206, 19%)

SIR MARK PRESCOTT (5 winners from their last 9 runners, 56% strike-rate): Another that got a headline mention last week and with three more winners from just 4 sent to post then it was paydays all round again. Yes, not fancy prices, but they were around the Evs money mark so there was profit to be had, while it’s interesting that their last 5 to be sent off favourite have all won. This puts them on 50 winners for the season, which is about what they get these days, but with 39 of those 50 coming with their 3 year-olds then this is another thing to note. Two of their recent winners – Italian Riviera and Mutual Regard – are engaged at Kempton on Thursday, and come into those races off the back of four and five wins on the spin.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton AW (33 from 183, 18%)

WILLIE MULLINS (15 winners from his last 33 runners, 45% strike-rate): The Willie Mullins yard was flagged up last week and with 5 more winners and 3 seconds from just 9 runners then they didn’t let us down. Yes, most of those were sent off favourite, but like Nicholls and Henderson horses over here, they often are. That already puts them on 79 winners in Ireland and are operating around the 33% mark, while in terms of UK winners they’ve only had one – Uncle Junior in the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Open Meeting  – that said, it may surprise some people but 5 winners last season was their best-ever UK win tally!
Upcoming entries and track stats: Limerick (34 from 101, 34%), Thurles (33 from 149, 22%), Dundalk AW (5 from 42, 12%), Fairyhouse (63 from 230, 27%)

ED DUNLOP (4 winners from his last 10 runners, 40% strike-rate): They had no luck in Tokyo with their globe-trotting Red Cadeaux last weekend as he could only manage 8^th in the Japan Cup, but on home soil they are doing the business. Their last three horses to be sent of favourite have all won, so look for any money in the betting, while they are the latest yard to start using the talents of Graham Lee – what price the former jumps jockey rides a Group 1 winner next season? With 41 winners so far in 2012 they’ve been ticking along nicely, but in contrast in terms of prize money this will be their worst year since 2008 with £471k banked so far. In terms of the AW tracks they do best at Southwell with a 40% record, but with no racing there until at least January it could pay to know they do next best at Wolverhampton (20%).
Upcoming entries and track stats: Lingfield AW (28 from 160, 18%), Wolverhampton AW (33 from 165, 20%), Kempton AW (19 from 192, 10%)

MICHAEL BELL (3 winners from his last 8 runners, 38% strike-rate): True, they had a 4/9 winner last week but they also fired in a monster 33/1 payday for their followers when Miss Aix won at Kempton last Wednesday. No runners since, and nothing on the horizon, but they are sure to have the odd runner over the closing 4 weeks of the year on the AW tracks. If they don’t they will end with 52 winners, which they are currently on, and that’s 20 shy of their best-ever total (72) that they managed in 2008. In terms of prize money this will be their worst year with £484k banked since 2006, so they will be hoping for better things in 2013. That said, with 18 juvenile and 26 3 year-old winners this term they’ve got a fair bit to look forward to with their younger horses, while if they do have any more AW runners then look out for any older horses at either Kempton or Wolverhampton – both tacks they boast 20%+ strike-rates at in that age group.
Upcoming entries and track stats: No up-coming entries

PHILIP HOBBS (4 winners from his last 11 runners, 36% strike-rate): Probably the most in-form UK jumps trainer at the moment! Captain Chris was excellent out in front last Saturday at Ascot and since then despite the limited fixtures they’ve sent out 4 more winners – all in a row from Monday afternoon till Tuesday at Lingfield. Two of those were sent off favourite, but the money came late on for De La Bech (entered at Towcester on Saturday) on Tuesday and any market support at the moment for their runners should be noted. Jockeys Richard Johnson and Tom O’Brien have been on all their recent winners, while with Taunton set to race on Thursday keep a look out for any they run over fences there as they are currently 7-from-20 (35%). They’ve also got Planet Of Sound still engaged in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup – he was, of course, second in the race last year and off a 6lbs lower mark this time if he makes the final line-up could be interesting.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Taunton (21 from 123, 17%), Newbury (11 from 81, 14%), Doncaster (3 from 19, 16%), Bangor (8 from 27, 30%), Towcester (1 from 9, 11%)

EVAN WILLIAMS (3 winners from his last 10 runners, 33% strike-rate): Yes, only 3 recent winners, but with 9 of those finishing fourth or better then that’s a further sign their horses are in cracking form and I think as long as the weather picks up we can expect a few more winners over the next few weeks. William’s Wishes was an eye-catching winner at Ascot on Saturday in a decent race – especially as he’d been off for some time too. Jockey Paul Moloney has been on all of their last 6 winners, but they do use the talented Adam Wedge and young Conor Ring when they can too. They are now sitting on 36 winners for the season, with 90 in 2010-11 to beat. Looking ahead make a note of anything they run up at Musselburgh on Friday – they are currently 3 from 6 with their limited runners at the Scottish venue.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Taunton (14 from 95, 15%), Uttoxeter (15 from 124, 12%), Musselburgh (3 from 5, 60%), Doncaster (0 from 4), Newbury (3 from 26, 12%), Newcastle (0 from 1), Bangor (7 from 76, 9%), Leicester (5 from 29, 17%), Carlisle (0 from 5)

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