Trainer Stats: 16th April 2013

O’Brien Horses In Fine Form

See who’s made it onto Andy Newton’s ‘Hot Trainer’s’ list this week…….

JIM BOYLE (4 winners from his last 8 runners, 50% strike-rate): Not had many runners since they fired in their four winners a few weeks ago. However, they had a 14/1 third at Windsor on Monday to back-up the excellent wellbeing of their yard. Based in Epsom the stable are now on 7 winners from 29 runners in 2013 and are currently showing a +£31 level stakes profit too.  They use jockey Matthew Davies a fair bit – he’s been on two of their 4 recent winners, but also look out for Pat Cosgrave in the saddle. Their best finish in a season is 59 (2009), which might be a tough call, but they will certainly be hoping to better the 29 and 27 that they’ve managed in the last few campaigns. Being based in Epsom then it’s no surprise you find a lot of their runners at the southern tracks, but of the AW courses it’s actually Southwell (24%) they do best at. The other interesting stat is that they are also just 2 from 87 at Epsom – their nearest track – so take that into account, especially when their evening Thursday fixtures come around.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (41 from 340, 12%)

PAUL NICHOLLS (4 winners from his last 8 runners, 50% strike-rate): Okay, so the NH trainers’ title race might be over, but Paul Nicholls  continues to chug along and with three winners at Wincanton on Sunday was a sign their horses remain in good heart. Yes, we probably won’t see of their star names until Sandown’s Bet365 Meeting in a few weeks, and then Punchestown later this month, but at least punters know their horses will be heading into the final two big NH meetings of the year in fine fettle. With 123 winners so far they need 15 more to equal last season’s tally, but are some way off their best total of 155. Considering the yard is also on a bit of a transition period with the likes of Kauto Star and co. long gone then they’ve done really well bank over £2.3million in total prize money. They’ve got plenty entered at Cheltenham later this week, while you can still expect them to have a small summer jumping team to keep things ticking over during May, June, July and August.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (31 from 149, 21%), Exeter (40 from 134, 30%), Cheltenham (70 from 438, 16%), Ayr (6 from 31, 19%), Fontwell (35 from 100, 35%), Southwell (1 from 1, 100%)

RALPH BECKETT (4 winners from their last 10 runners, 40% strike-rate): With 4 winners last week this puts the Beckett team on 9 for 2013, and that’s from just 35 runners (26%). They are also showing a nice +£18 level stakes profit and will firmly have the 64 winners they had last season as a target. Their best-ever was not too far off that (69, 2010), while in 5 of the last 9 seasons they’ve shown a level stakes profit over the whole campaign too. Jim Crowley is their main man in the saddle and was on all four of their recent winners. Five of their 9 winners this year have been with their 3 year-olds, and looking back at the past 5 seasons this age group is by far the one they excel the most with. With a 21% strike-rate on the AW tracks over the last 5 years too then keep this in mind – they actually do well at all four of the sand track, but do are showing level stakes profits at Kempton (+£64) and Lingfield (£40). As the turf season moves on look for runners at Ayr, Brighton, Chepstow, Ffos Las, Leicester, Pontefract & Ripon – all tracks they’ve done well at in the past.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Newmarket (9 from 69, 13%), Kempton AW (49 from 230, 21%), Newbury (10 from 76, 13%), Bath (5 from 51, 10%)

PHILIP HOBBS (3 winners from their last 8 runners, 38% strike-rate): The Somerset-based yard fired in two winners on Sunday at Wincanton and Ffos Las, two victories that followed-up another success last Friday. We might be coming to the backend of the main NH season, so the jumping cards will not be as frequent as they have been, but with 64 winners so far the Hobbs yard will be keen to get near the 73 they managed last term (their best-ever tally was 134 back in 2002-03). Last season was the first time they didn’t bank over £1million in total prize money, but they only just missed out. So far they are on £854k for this season, so unless they have a very good time at Punchestown later this month they look like falling a short on that front once again. Looking ahead, they’ve plenty of up-coming entries, but with a 27% record with their NH Flat runners at Cheltenham then look for anything they run there later his week. They also do well at Fontwell (27%) and should have runners at the figure-of-eight track later this week.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Kempton (22 from 132, 17%), Exeter (37 from 211, 18%), Cheltenham (34 from 283, 12%), Ayr (1 from 15, 7%), Fontwell (12 from 44, 27%), Newbury (23 from 168, 14%)

AIDAN O’BRIEN (8 winners from his last 23 runners, 35% strike-rate): We are starting to see more O’Brien runners now the flat season is kicking in and Ireland’s leading handler seemingly couldn’t have his string in better form. Since last Wednesday they’ve fired in 8 more winners – with Joseph O’Brien riding them all – and it looks as if it’s going to be another big season for the Ballydoyle team. Last year they raided these shores to land four of the five English Classics and will, once again, hold strong hands with the first of those (Guineas) now less than a month away. In fact ,they only managed 13 winners in the UK last season, but they still banked over £2.6million from those, while in Ireland it might surprise some to know they only broken the 100 winners-in-a-season mark twice – and that was way back in 1997 and 1999. As the season moves on look for any Chester runners, especially at their May Meeting next month, as they got an overall track record of 45% there, while of the Irish venues they do well at most of the tracks, but in particular Wexford (44%) and Limerick (39%).
Upcoming entries and track stats: Newmarket (7 from 63, 11%), Dundalk (55 from 252, 22%), Tipperary (20 from 86, 23%)

RICHARD FAHEY (3 winners from their last 13 runners, 23% strike-rate): Yes, not the best strike-rate, but this powerful yard is having quite a lot of runners at present. However, two of those three runners have returned 16/1 meaning a nice recent profit for their followers and are now already on the 27 winner mark. They seem to always do well at the beginning of the season, especially at next month’s York Dante Meeting, the only problem (like I say) is that for the last four season’s they’ve had well over 1,100 runners, so it’s sorting the wheat from the chaff. 181 winners in 2010 was their best yet, but with the last five campaigns reading 113, 165, 181, 151 and 142 then we can expect more of the same this season. Looking ahead note anything they send to Yarmouth and Windsor as they got excellent record there, but be wary of anything they run at Ascot, Newbury, Goodwood and Sandown.
Upcoming entries and track stats: Beverley (31 from 250, 12%), Newmarket (8 from 84, 10%), Ripon (24 from 197, 12%), Wolverhampton (62 from 500, 12%), Bath (0 from 5), Newbury (2 from 48, 4%)

 CLICK ON A TRAINER’S NAME TO SEE THEIR UP-COMING ENTRIES AND TRACK STATS

Follow Andy Newton Here – @NewtsDailyLays