Hot To Trot: Henderson the one to follow

Flat trainer: John Gosden

John Gosden has enjoyed a great week at Royal Ascot, recording a treble on Tuesday with Calyx, Without Parole and Monarchs Glen, while Stradivarius added another Group 1 staying prize to his name in the Gold Cup on Thursday.

What a finish as STRADIVARIUS wins the Gold Cup.

Not a bad way for @FrankieDettori to mark his 60th #RoyalAscot success! pic.twitter.com/HnYKFerDL2

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 21, 2018

Moving on into next week, Gosden also has plenty of runners in with chances, including Staplegrove who could take his chance in a mile minor event at Windsor on Monday. He came on for his debut as expected when fourth over a mile and a quarter at the same course last time and his pedigree gives hope there’s even better to come. Spanish Aria, a well-bred two-year-old – dam half-sister to the high-class Mukhadram – may make her debut at Newbury on Wednesday, while Garrick (also in at Kempton on Wednesday) and Loujain hold entries on the same card. Valcartier hasn’t been at his best so far this season, but a return to his best form would see him competitive if taking his chance in the mile handicap at Salisbury on Wednesday.

Jumps trainer: Nicky Henderson

As the graph below demonstrates, Nicky Henderson is performing better than he usually does at this time of year, operating at a 38% strike rate this season, with 72.2% of his horses running to form. It’s safe to say he’s one of the hottest trainers around at the minute.

Ballinure is Henderson’s only runner on Sunday and he should go well in what looks a competitive race at Worcester. He added to his good record fresh when winning at Towcester last month and has since undergone a wind operation. A subsequent 5 lb rise looks fair. The Bottom Bar holds entries at Newton Abbot (Tuesday) and Worcester (Wednesday) and should prove competitive wherever he turns up, while Monbeg Legend, also at Worcester could prove one of Henderson’s best chances next week. An Irish point winner, he made a successful debut over fences at Ludlow last month, winning readily by four and a half lengths, and he should have even more to offer.

Under the radar: Iain Jardine

Iain Jardine is the most in-form trainer around on Timeform’s scale and he has plenty of runners to look forward to both on the Flat and over jumps in the coming days.

His sole runner on Sunday goes at Hexham in the shape of Something Brewing (also holds an entry at Southwell on Monday) and he seems to be getting better with each run over hurdles. He should give another good account. Jardine could saddle four runners at Carlisle on Wednesday, including Gunnabedun, a two-year-old colt who could make his debut. Alemaratalyoum could be one of his best chances of the week, though, having made a good impression when winning at Ayr on Monday, recording a fast closing sectional, and he should make a bold bid turned out under a 6 lb penalty. Tor, who ran well at Chester last time, could also take his chance on the same card, and this consistent sort should be in the mix again.