Form Focus – Who’s Hot in the Trainer and Jockey Stats.

Trainers and Jockeys report 04/12/2018

A reasonable week last week despite going winner free with every single one of the horses mentioned placing at odds up to 20/1, and hopefully showing the benefit of an occasional play with the old statistics and more importantly the knowledge of a stable or jockey at the top of their game – hopefully we can hit the bullseye this week coming instead with our horse racing tips.

In-Form Trainers:

Tom Lacey – 50% winners 67% placed runners

First time on the list for the Ledbury trainer whose recent runners have been on fire (at the time of writing). He has a list of potential runners in the next few days with He’s A Goer as interesting as any on the list. Although pulled up last time at Hereford out over further when weakening late on, he has winning form this season over this trip at Warwick, and a fast run two miles at Lingfield may be perfect on Monday afternoon.

John Ryan – 31% winners 54% placed runners

The dual-purpose Newmarket trainer appears on our list at number two this week though his All-Weather winners have outnumbered any over jumps in recent weeks. Facethepuckout is no stable star and will have to give weight away all round on Friday evening at Kempton but he should be coming to hand now after just the two runs after arriving from Joseph O’Brien and looks a sporting bet on a Friday for a change.

Rebecca Menzies – 29% winners 41% placed runners 

Geographically our furthest North of the trainers this week and the Durham based yard have a good chance of striking this weekend even further up the County at Kelso thanks to recent Carlisle winner Xpo Universel. He gets in here carrying a seven-pound penalty after his twelve-length romp that day and if they do let him take his chances dropped in to this class, he may well be able to follow up.

Philip Hobbs – 28% winners 53% placed runners

We have never heard a bad word said about trainer Philip Hobbs who is a master of his craft, though for the purposes of this list he is a tricky one if only because he has so many potential runners to choose from. One horse that may well provide a spot of value would be Cedar Valley who has an each-way squeak on her best form in the fillies and mares maiden hurdle at Wincanton Thursday. She makes her hurdling debut here after a one-paced bumper fifth with the added trip expected to bring about plenty of improvement.

In-Form Jockeys:

Gavin Sheehan – 36% winners 48% placed rides

Good to see Gavin get on to the list at last and thoroughly deserved as well with plenty of recent winners even when we ignore the embarrassing walkover which is hardly his fault. His booked rides are minimal at present leaving choices for us thin on the ground but with the Jamie Snowden horses going well it may pay to take the chance on the unraced Early Morning Rain at Ludlow on Wednesday. She only cost connection 12,000 Euros at the sales but has been found a sensible race to start off in and could go well, hopefully at a decent price.

Nico De Boinville – 35% winners 59% placed rides

Interesting to see that Nico sits in second spot again this week though with the recent good run of the Henderson horses as well his percentages are far better now than they were seven days ago. Another with very few booked rides at present his best chance looks to be on Mr Whipped in a four-horse race at Haydock tomorrow. Sure to strip fitter after his debut over fences he could prove tough to beat here though at what price is anybody’s guess.

Connor King – 30% winners 30% placed rides

Good to see you Connor who was twice the Irish Apprentice Champion on the flat doing well at his new career as a jumps jockey and we can only wish him all the best. At this stage he has done remarkably well to even make the list but whether he can add to the stats this week is open to question as he bids to make his mark and attract the better rides. He does have an interesting mount at Haydock on Wednesday afternoon in the bumper with Irish raider Ebony Jewel who could have a squeak if the market speaks in his favour on debut.

Adam Kirby – 29% winners 46% placed rides

Considered by many as the King of the All-Weather, Adam is there or thereabouts for this list each and every week barring spectacular efforts by the jump jockeys of course.  He has a pretty full book of rides at Wolverhampton on Saturday night but interestingly David O’Meara has booked him to ride course and distance winner Laubali in the sprint, and as his last win was here off the same mark, he has to have some kind of each way chance.

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

Early Morning Rain – 3.20pm Ludlow Wednesday

Ebony Jewel – 3.30pm Haydock Wednesday

Cedar Valley – 1.00pm Wincanton Thursday

Facethepuckout – 6.15pm Kempton Friday

Laubali – 7.15pm Wolverhampton Saturday

Xpo Universel – 1.35pm Kelso Sunday

He’s A Goer – 2.00pm Lingfield Monday

Fancy a more up to date list of runners and selections – have a look at our racecard page here.