Hot To Trot: Project one for the notebook

John Quinn

Nearly three years have passed since John Quinn won the Prix Morny with The Wow Signal and high profile successes have been harder to come by in the years since. Moonlightnavigator gave his trainer a boost when dead-heating in the valuable Thirsk Summer Cup recently, however, and Quinn could be in for productive end to the summer if his recent form - which is demonstrated in the graph below - is anything to go by.

The most exciting horse in Quinn's care at present is perhaps Project Bluebook, though his best form to date has come over hurdles, including when sixth in the Galway Hurdle last time. He had previously shaped with promise when second on the level at Catterick, however, and remains potentially very well treated in that sphere if lining up at Beverley or Chepstow on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Shaheen shaped better than the bare result when third on his nursery debut at Leicester last month and could attempt to add to his trainer's tally in the coming days. He seemed unsuited by the step up to seven furlongs last time, but certainly showed enough to suggest that his opening mark is fair at the least, and he will be of interest back down in trip at Kempton on Wednesday evening, with the prospect of more to come after just four starts.

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan's problems after an outbreak of equine herpes at his yard this spring have been well-documented, but Brando gave his trainer reason to smile again when winning the Group 1 Prix de Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last Sunday, and there have been definite signs of a revival all-round in recent weeks. Indeed, Ryan's yard is back performing to a level that would be expected at this time of year, as the graph below shows:

The trainer currently has three entries in the opening race at Beverley on Thursday - namely Dandy's Beano, Elnadim Star and Gold Stone - and the former will be of definite interest wherever she turns up next, following an encouraging second on her most recent outing at Nottingham. She had clearly learnt plenty from her debut when coming up half a length short behind an interesting newcomer that day, pulling clear of the remainder, and looks well up to winning a similar event. Distant Past, on the other hand, was disappointing when down the field at Newcastle last time. The six-year-old may have needed the run after seven weeks off the track, however, and has now dropped to a mark just 2 lb higher than when a decisive winner at the same venue in December. He cannot be discounted if back to his best at Chelmsford on Tuesday evening.

Karl Burke

Stable star Quiet Reflection may have been restricted to just one start this season, when well held in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, but the two-year-old Havana Grey has filled the void admirably for trainer Karl Burke, winning a pair of listed races at Sandown and the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time. He is worth a try in a higher grade now and can be expected to run well if lining up in this year's Prix Morny for the in-form Burke.

Relevant might be one of the stable's lesser lights, but she is fancied to be competitive if lining up at Chelmsford on Tuesday evening. She showed the benefit of her debut when fourth at Haydock last time and the form of that effort could hardly have worked out better, with the winner God Given following up in a listed race at Newmarket. The third has also won at Leicester since and Relevant did well to be beaten just five and a half lengths on the day, given that she still didn't look the finished article. Finally, Satisfy will also be of interest if making his handicap bow at Beverley on Thursday. He has run poorly the last twice, but had shaped well before that when third at Thirsk in April, just found wanting for a change of gear late in the day, and he starts life in handicaps from what looks a fair mark.