Hot To Trot: Be wary of Whittington

Jumps Trainer: Harry Whittingon

After a breakthrough season in 2015/16 where he managed 21 winners from just 91 runners, it’s fair to say that last term was a fairly disappointing one for Harry Whittington, his total down to just 13 and his strike-rate – which had been an impressive 23% – dipping to just 11%. This season has been much more like it, however, Whittington now up to 25 winners in Britain and actually operating at a slightly better strike-rate than in 2015/16, and with a live Cheltenham Festival hope in the shape of the exciting Saint Calvados, 2017/18 can only get better for the stable. One of Whittington’s best hopes of keeping the winners flowing approaching March could come via Perfect Myth at Wetherby next week. She’d shown plenty when finishing second in at the same track on debut and was a bit too keen when next seen at Musselburgh. If settling better this time she may well go close back at the scene of her best form. Another horse that has shown a bit in bumpers is Tangoed, finishing second at Newton Abbott in August. She hasn’t achieved a great deal over hurdles this season but has been given a break before tackling handicaps (entered at Huntingdon on Thursday).

Flat Trainer: Marco Botti

Marco Botti was highlighted in this column as being an in-form trainer as recently as December, but it’s well worth featuring him again two months on given that there isn’t a trainer in better form currently – on our figures – in Britain/Ireland. Surprisingly the yard haven’t had many runners so far in February – they’d had plenty towards the end of January – but those that have been out this month have done well, a winner and two places from just six runners. Things look a bit busier for Botti next week, however, with Sweet Symphony making her handicap debut at either Kempton (a mile) or Wolverhampton (seven furlongs). She was dropped to six furlongs for her final maiden start but will be well suited by going back up in trip and remains with some potential with this in mind.

Under The Radar: Keith Dalgleish

Keith Dalgleish is primarily a Flat trainer and is having far more runners on the all-weather than he is over jumps this winter, but those in his care that have ventured over the sticks have done so in a pretty striking way, the yard now up to 23 winners from just 66 runners (an impressive 35% strike-rate). Four of those winners came in the space of two days, with successive doubles at Musselburgh on Wednesday and Kelso on Thursday, one of those winners being Silver Concorde, winless in eight starts over hurdles for former trainer Dermot Weld but now three from four for Dalgleish. Hardrock Davis is the only jumps runner currently entered for the yard next week, and he may well be interesting now dropping in trip for his handicap debut at Sedgefield. Hardrock Davis showed a bit in bumpers for Tom George and shaped as though he’d strip fitter for his first outing for this yard at Ayr in January, leading the field until three out. He’s related to plenty of jumps winners and should do better at some stage.