Trainer Stats: 23rd Jan 2013

Simcock Has Started 2013 In Fine Form

Andy Newton’s got 6 hot trainers to look out for on the AW tracks, plus a big yard who are still looking for their first winner in 2013!

DAVID SIMCOCK (5 winners from his last 8 runners, 63% strike-rate): Yes, they had a 2/9 shot turned over a few weeks ago at Lingfield, but since then they’ve more than made up for that with 5 winners around the AW tracks. Jamie Spencer, Jim Crowley and Andrea Atzeni have been doing the steering on those recent successes, while don’t forget they’ve got a few out in Dubai too – their Glass Office ran a decent fifth over at Meydan last Thursday. They are now on 5 winners from just 15 runners in 2013 as they look to build on the 68 (their best-ever) they managed in 2012. Of the AW tracks they’ve got the best strike-rate at Southwell, so keep that in mind when they start to race there again, while although it’s not the time of the year for 2 year-olds as the season moves on it could pay to know they are 5 from 19 (26%) with their juveniles on the AW at Lingfield.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (23 from 211, 11%), Lingfield (24 from 156, 15%)

JOHN BUTLER (3 winners from his last 6 runners, 50% strike-rate): Okay, so  with old favourite Stand Guard being responsible for two of their three recent winners then their good form might be a bit misleading. However, Vitnau added to their good run with a fine win at Kempton last week, and could easily go in again as he’s entered at the Sunbury-On-Thames venue again this Wednesday. Jockey Adam Kirby, who is riding out of his skin at the moment, is booked as much as possible – he’s been on all three of their recent winners, but they do also use Liam Keniry too. Last season was their rookie campaign, so with 11 winners it was an okay start to the training ranks, but you suspect this Newmarket-based yard will better that this term with more experience under their belts. Wolverhampton is the AW track to note, as they are currently 9 from 45 (20%) there, while in contrast they’ve fired in just one Lingfield winner and had only 3 Kempton successes to date.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (3 from 32, 9%), Wolverhampton (9 from 45, 20%)

JAMES UNETT (3 winners from their last 7 runners, 43% strike-rate): Not a yard that most punters will be totally familiar with, but with three winners and two seconds from their last 7 runners then it’s clear their horses are running well at present. Based in Shropshire the team have been in operation since 2001, with 2003 their best campaign so far with 15 winners. They managed just 7 last term, so with 3 already are almost half way to equalling that – good luck to them. In terms of jockeys in recent weeks they’ve tended to use David Probert (2 winners) and Adam Beschizza (1), while although you’ll find the bulk of their runners at Wolverhampton they are in fact 2-from-2 with their Lingfield AW runners. Once the turf action starts in a few months they seem to have most of their runners at Chester, Warwick, Haydock, Nottingham and Leicester.
Upcoming entries and track stats: No entries on the horizon

GARY MOORE (7 winners from his last 18 runners, 39% strike-rate): Been firing in the winners over both codes at present with 5 successes from their 15 flat runners so far in 2013, while over the sticks this recent purple patch has seen them reach 21 winners. Sticking with their NH runners, that now means they need just 8 more to equal their 2011-12 tally, but in contrast will be extremely hard-pressed to get near their best-ever NH total of 63 (2005-06). It goes without saying that sons, Jamie and Joshua, get the bulk of their NH rides, while on the flat the steering is done mainly by George Baker – he’s been on their last 4 flat winners. The times of banging in 88 winners (2008) in a season on the level look a bit beyond them these days, but you can expect this consistent yard to get around 40-50. They can also have plenty to look forward to with the exciting novice chaser Sire De Grugy, who easily disposed of Cantlow last time out – a horse that’s since franked the form by winning easily twice himself. He holds an Arkle entry and although it’s hard to see him getting the better of Simonsig in that sphere he could easily outrun his current 33/1 odds and hit the frame.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (46 from 358, 13%), Huntingdon (12 from 109, 11%), Wolverhampton (12 from 89, 13%), Cheltenham (2 from 53, 4%), Doncaster (0 from 17), Lingfield (55 from 460, 12%), Fontwell (44 from 261, 17%), Uttoxeter (1 from 15)

STUART WILLIAMS (3 winners from his last 10 runners, 30% strike-rate): Three recent winners, and, yes, two of those were odds-on, while two were also the same horse. However, add in three seconds and a third from that batch of runners then Stuart’s horses are clearly in fine fettle. Not one of the more fashionable yards, but they clearly know their stuff, especially around the southern AW tracks and you can expect them to get around the 30-40 mark for the season. With 4 from just 16 already then at least they are off and running, while when it comes to jockeys they tend to use Sean Levey, Andrea Atzeni and David Probert the most – with the last-named of those actually riding all three of their recent winners. Of the AW tracks they’ve got the best strike-rate at Wolverhampton (25%), but when the turf action kicks-in note anything they send to Brighton (24% strike-rate).
Upcoming entries and track stats: Lingfield (27 from 140, 19%)

MARK USHER (3 winners from their last 10 runners, 30% strike-rate): A bit like the some of the other trainers featured this week they’ve not had bundles of runners, but being a smaller yard and with the weather they are not going to. Therefore, to have 3 winners, a second and three thirds from their last 11 sent to post to a great effort. Jockey Racheal Kneller is fast making a name for herself and is used more often than not – her ride on Idol Deputy at Wolverhampton recently was right up there with the best I’ve seen for a while and, therefore, her 5lb claim will be a real asset in the coming months to this yard and others that use her services. 2010 was a bit of a blot for the Berkshire-based yard with just 8 winners, but since then they’ve bagged 28 and 21, plus don’t be too put off if you see one of their runners at a price – 3 of the last 5 seasons have seen them finish with a positive end-of-season level stakes profit.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Lingfield (10 from 109, 9%), Kempton (12 from 170, 7%), Wolverhampton (16 from 179, 9%)

A Watching Brief?….

MARK JOHNSTON (0 Winners from their last 22 runners): Being such a big yard I thought it might be worth knowing that they are still looking for their first winner in 2013 from 22 runners. Yes, they are only going to war with their lower class AW horses at present, but don’t forget they do like to have winners all-year-round and actually fired in 78 AW successes in 2012 and since 2009 have had a staggering 1420 AW runners! It goes without saying that form is temporary and class is permanent, so I’m sure it won’t be long before they have their first winner of the year, but until they do you might want to keep your power dry. One reason might be that Southwell is currently closed as of the 4 AW tracks they do best on the fibresand with their runners (25%), so once they are back up and racing too I’m sure we’ll see plenty of winners flying in.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Lingfield (71 from 345, 21%), Kempton (53 from 359, 15%), Wolverhampton (84 from 429, 20%)

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