Hot To Trot: An exhibition from Tate

Flat Trainer: James Tate (Click trainer’s name for a list of full entries)

Traditionally, the James Tate yard has struggled slightly at his time of year, as the below graph shows, so it is interesting to see them performing so well in recent weeks.

Tate has a host of entries next week, including Grecian Spirit, who has three engagements; at Kempton on Monday, at Newcastle on Wednesday and at Chelmsford on Thursday. The three-year-old showed improved form after both a break and a wind operation when third and upped in trip at Newcastle last month, leading briefly two furlongs out and not quickening. He still looked a bit raw that day and is open to further improvement wherever he takes his chance next week, and he is likely to be fresher than many of those he will meet at this time of year.

Also with an entry on Monday is Camelot Ratki, who is due to take her chance in the nursery at Pontefract. The daughter of Camelot showed improved form to get off the mark at Wolverhampton two weeks ago, and she is likely to continue to give a good account. Local History is entered at Windsor on Monday and Yarmouth on Tuesday, and is worth a check in the market on her debut, as she makes appeal on paper (half-sister to several winners, including useful 5f (including at 2 yrs) winner Kyleakin Lass).

Later in the week, Coastline has entries at both Kempton and Yarmouth on Tuesday. She showed plenty of ability to finish second on debut at Newcastle last month, just losing out in a close battle, but she is sure to benefit from that, and she will be of interest in either race, whilst Reassurance found the trip too sharp at Newcastle last time and will appreciate the step back up in trip this week (holds entries at both Kempton and Newcastle on Tuesday). Last but not least, Battle of Wills caught the eye on his debut at Nottingham 10 days ago, held back by his experience that day, but seeming sure to progress, but is worth a check in the market if taking up either of his engagements at Newcastle and Newmarket on Wednesday.

Jumps Trainer: Kim Bailey

Slowly but surely, the National Hunt season is edging back towards the centre stage, and as it does, the Kim Bailey yard are ticking along rather nicely – as the below graph shows.

Bailey has five entries on Wednesday, including Rose To Fame in a bumper at Fontwell. She’s shown only modest form in two starts so far, but she is perhaps one for the future – she has an appealing pedigree (dam a sister to useful hurdler/chaser Twelve Roses) and is worth keeping an eye on over the winter. Also with an entry on Wednesday is Commodore Barry, who is due to run at Worcester. He’s a gelding on the up at the moment, showing improved form to complete a double on handicap debut at Southwell last time, and with further improvement to come, a 7 lb rise may not be enough to stop him in his current heart.

On Thursday, Imperial Aura holds entries in novice hurdle events at both Carlisle and Ludlow. He’s shown fairly useful form in two starts in bumpers, making all when winning at the second attempt at Ludlow in May, and he looks a solid prospect over timber. Sea Story is another with an entry at Ludlow on Thursday, and she also has an engagement at Ludlow the day before. She was a fairly useful bumper performer last term, picking up two wins, before running poorly in Grade 2 company when last seen at Aintree in April. She’s one to keep an eye on this season, as is the fairly useful hurdler Rhaegar, who is due to make his chasing debut next week, with entries at Worcester on Wednesday and Southwell on Thursday.

Under The Radar: Paul Cole

This yard is generally a productive one at this time of year, enjoying a stellar September, and their runners tend to do well as the ground starts to get more testing – as the below graph shows.

Cole has five entries next week, including Over The Guns, who is entered in nurseries at Pontefract on Monday and at Newmarket on Wednesday. He has shown fairly useful form in three starts so far, overcoming greenness to win on debut at a big price at Leicester in June, before running respectably in each of his next two starts. He’s a potentially useful performer, and looks to have been giving a workable opening mark now switched into handicap company.

Also with entries on Monday are Towelrads Boy and Arctic Sea, both at Windsor. The former also has an entry at Yarmouth on Tuesday, and whilst he has been struggling of late, he ran respectably in selling company at Leicester last time, finishing fourth. He will need more now switched back to handicap company, however, whilst Arctic Sea was a well-backed winner of an apprentice race at Lingfield two starts ago, before only running respectably at the same track last time out. He’s just 1 lb higher than that winning mark, however, and is likely to remain competitive.