Form Focus – Who’s Hot In The Trainer And Jockey Stats 26/02/19

Trainers and Jockeys report 26/02/2019

A couple of winners last week from a minimal list and back we go for more as we look towards the Cheltenham festival when trainers and jockeys in form could well be the ones to watch. Hopefully we can add a few more winners before then from the options below which are based on win and place percentages from those with a sensible number of runners or rides. As always, trainer plans are flexible so if you want a more up to date assessment head off to our horse racing tips for the latest news.

In-Form Trainers:

James Tate – 50% winners 75% placed runners

A new name at the top of the list but with those percentages how could the Newmarket trainer fail to make the final cut, albeit from less runners than we would normally consider. WISE WORDS

looks an interesting newcomer in the 7.15pm at Newcastle on Thursday evening as a daughter of Sepoy, and thus in receipt of weight from all bar one of her rivals with her filly allowance. A 75,000 Guineas purchase as a yearling, she won’t need to be a world beater here and looks well worth the risk to smaller stakes over this six-furlong trip.

Nicky Henderson – 39% winners 68% placed runners

Considering his issues with new flu vaccinations it would have come as no surprise were Nicky to have had a bad week or two but far from it, they continue to run in exemplary form and the scary thing for his rivals is, they can only get better. His runners this week are plentiful at present with VERDANA BLUE

the most interesting as she runs over a mile and a half on the flat at Kempton on Wednesday night. Last seen beating Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air over hurdles this is little more than a pre-Cheltenham blow out, but she ought to have far too much class for all of these rivals.

Mick Channon – 33% winners 67% placed runners

Ex-footballer turned trainer Mick Channon sits a comfortable third his week and will be hoping that his horses remain in this sort of form when the flat season on the grass starts in a month or so. A dual-purpose trainer these days his next runner (and only in the next few days) will be CHYNA, who is due to head to a Listed race at Lingfield on Saturday. No-one is suggesting she is any kind of a good thing in a race of this standard, but she has some decent placed form recently enough to her name, and with the yard in great form could surprise them all or place at the very least.

Derek Shaw – 32% winners 37% placed runners 

A new name on our list but with plenty of winners coming out of his Leicestershire stable, now may well be the time to keep following those travelling from The Sidings to the racetracks over the week ahead. Nothing really stands out on paper sadly despite a good list of potential winners, but CRIKEYITSWHYKIE looks an interesting each-way option in the 8.00pm at Newcastle Friday evening. He is reportedly better than we have seen so far and drops in to this Class Seven event, and if he can repeat his debut third from 2017, he might not be that far away off a lowly mark of 43.

In-Form Jockeys: 

Pierre-Louis Jamin – 60% winners 80% placed rides

Every possibility we are talking about a future Champion jockey here if he keeps on improving over the years ahead and gets support from the bigger stables, but before then he can hopefully keep his good run going with QUEEN OF PARIS

in an apprentice handicap, where he may just have the edge. His mount came home a one-paced sixth last time out over course and distance but could be ridden nearer to the pace here in a race she looks more than capable of winning.

Billy Garritty – 50% winners 50% placed rides

A distinct lack of rides this week and with one of them forecast a 66/1 shot that leaves us with DEW POND in the Novices’ handicap hurdle at Doncaster on Friday. Four top four finishes in a row suggest the seven-year-old has each way possibilities in this field, and as he was a beaten favourite last time out expect him to be backed as connections look to recoup those losses. NON-RUNNER.

Joe Fanning – 33% winners 44% placed rides

Nothing comes with a guaranteed in this game, but Robert Cowell does well with his sprinters and has an interesting one on his hands in the ex Ed Dunlop trained GLOBAL EXCEED

who has also been gelded since he was last seen. He was raced over further on his last four starts without success but has won over this trip, and does look intriguingly weighted for his in-form pilot.

Oisin Murphy – 30% winners 40% placed rides

One of the media’s favourite jockeys and always happy to chat to the press, he looks sure to ride more winners this week with TIGER EYE

the one we want to be on. A late maturing sort with just the one start as a three-year-old when second at Wolverhampton, the daughter of Frankel made no mistake last time out over this trip at the same track. Although she has to give weight away all round, she is a typical James Fanshawe sort who can only get better and ought to take this on her way to better things.

Summary (in chronological order, all times subject to change):

Dew Pond – 2.10pm Doncaster Friday NON-RUNNER.

Crikeyitswhykie – 8.00pm Newcastle Saturday

Chyna – 3.50pm Lingfield Saturday

Last week’s form focus can be found on site here, while if you fancy a more up to date list of runners and selections – have a look at our racecard page here.