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Sir Michael Stoute’s good year—he’s trained 44 winners so far, which bodes well considering he saddled 79 in the whole of 2015 and 81 in 2014—shows no signs of stopping and most of his runners this week will be worth considering. Among them is Third Rock who promises to take plenty of beating as a lightly-raced three-year-old against older handicappers at Windsor on Monday. Third Rock doesn't yet look the finished article but improved in a first-time visor over a two-furlong longer trip when second in a Salisbury minor event last time and is likely to have even more to come in time given his connections. Fellow three-year-old Yangtze is also still a maiden after five starts but he caught the eye when three and a half lengths fourth of 12 to Dal Harraild in a competitive three-year-old handicap over the extended mile and a half at Musselburgh last time, caught further back than ideal, and looks sure to be suited by the extra distance in a similar race at Bath on Wednesday. It would be no surprise to see the Stoute stable saddled several winners this week before Cannock Chase lines up in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.
Did you know that since last October Warren Greatrex has not gone more than 12 runners in between winners? It’s true, and it highlights just how good Greatrex is at placing his horses. It’s fair to say the bookies are well aware of Greatrex’s prowess and his winners rarely go off at double-figure prices, but there’s still good money to be made following the yard. Professeur Emery could be an interesting runner for the stable this week. He completed a hat-trick at Stratford in summer 2013 (two hurdles wins and a successful chase debut) and shaped as if retaining plenty of ability in a refitted hood/tongue strap back from fully 32 months off when fourth of seven in a handicap hurdle at Bangor in March. He’s clearly had his problems, but was not unduly punished once his chance had gone last time and market support for him on his next start would look significant. It’s also worth pointing out that Greatrex has saddled two winner from three runners on the Flat this year, including Boite in a 0-95 staying handicap at Goodwood recently.
The Ruth Carr yard tends to have several strong spells during the year and, obviously, it regularly pays to side with its runner as much as possible when they hit form. Carr has saddled four winners and a whole host of horses that have run to form on the Timeform metrics over the last fortnight and there should be more winners upcoming. The trainer’s Meshardal won four times in 2015 and has looked in good form again lately, finishing fourth of 12 to Intense Style at Doncaster last time. He made his ground sooner and easier than most that day and could be one to back on his next start; he's eligible for 0-80 races nowadays and would have a class edge on many in such events. Cosmic Chatter has finished runner-up on his last two outings, beaten only a nose by three-year-old Born Innocent in a sprint handicap at Hamilton on Thursday. He probably hasn’t got much in hand from his current mark—he got first run on the eventual winner on that last start— but he’s clearly back in top form and it wouldn’t be a surprise if her got back to winning ways soon, comments which also apply to the yard’s Flash City who runs at Musselburgh on Monday. Finally, it’s definitely worth giving a second look to Carr’s runners in sellers as she’s recorded eight winners from 33 runners (+£10 to a £1 level stake) in such events over the last five years, with the figure even more impressive when concentrating on just her three-year-olds in those races.
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