Hot To Trot: Haggas showing no signs of slowing down

Flat trainer: William Haggas (click here for full entries)

William Haggas is one of the hottest trainers around on Timeform’s scale at present, and his runners are well worth following in the coming days.

Eyelool, who has made an encouraging start to his career, could be a rare runner for the yard at Ayr on Monday. He has shown a fair level of form already and, with further progress on the cards, he looks well up to winning races. Ripon is a track where Haggas does well, and Island of Life (also holds an entry at Bath on Tuesday) could prove hard to beat if taking his chance in the five-furlong handicap.

Extra Large and Hateel both hold entries in the same race at Thirsk on Tuesday, and both should prove competitive, but it is the former who marginally comes out best on Timeform ratings, and could be the answer if both are declared.

Astronaut makes a fair bit of appeal on paper and could make his debut at Yarmouth on Wednesday. He holds entries in a few sales races later in the season and could be above-average. The well-related Swiss Air is speedily bred but was held back by inexperience on debut at Yarmouth last time. It is hard to think she is not capable of much better and will be very interesting if taking her chance at Lingfield also on Wednesday.

Jumps trainer: Dr Richard Newland (click here for full entries)

Dr Richard Newland has saddled a staggering six winner from his last 10 runners at the time of writing, so it is fair to say there isn’t a jumps trainer in better form at present. The graph below shows that this isn’t out of the ordinary for Newland, though his run to form percentage rose even higher last season, so he is well worth following for a bit longer yet.

Newland has two very good chances on Sunday at Southwell and Stratford in the shape of Inessa and Adams Park, respectively. The form got off the mark over hurdles in good style at Worcester last time and seems sure to go well escaping a penalty for that success, while Adams Park was a fair performer on the Flat for Roger Varian and should come on for his hurdling debut.

Cotton Club has a couple of entries at Worcester (Tuesday) and Uttoxeter (Wednesday). She still has a bit to learn as a hurdler, but has the raw ability to win races in this sphere, and should give another good account. Competition and Stole The Show could also take their chance at Uttoxeter on Wednesday in the two-mile novice hurdle; the latter comes out best of the two on Timeform ratings.

Under the radar: Julie Camacho (click here for full entries)

As the graph below demonstrates, Julie Camacho is arguably in the best form of her career. She needs just one more winner to match last year’s total winners, and her runners are well worth keeping an eye on at present.

I Know How has made an encouraging start to the season, winning on his reappearance before shaping better than the bare result at Pontefract last time. He will be suited by seven furlongs and another bold bid is expected. Kirkham may run at Beverley on Tuesday, but Swaheen could have better claims at Thirsk. Admittedly, he has been operating below his best for a while now, but he is 10 lb lower than his last winning mark, and could be worth chancing with the stable in such good form.

Paco Ecostar made an encouraging start for Camacho at Haydock recently and there should be more to come from this relatively unexposed type. He is entered in the five-furlong handicap at Catterick on Wednesday and should go well.