Hot To Trot: Charlton finishing strong

Flat Trainer: Roger Charlton

Roger Charlton is having a very successful October, with a host of winners punctuated by the high-profile (and well-backed) success of Withhold in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last weekend. Charlton’s fruitful period has gone a long way to helping stable jockey Kieran Shoemark record his best figures yet (illustrated below), with a lot of the young jockey’s success coming on the all-weather.

Charlton has Zefferino entered over six furlongs at both Newcastle and Kempton on Tuesday, and the Frankel colt looks an interesting contender racing over that trip for the first time. He already has winning form on polytrack and a revival would come as no great surprise. Desert Grey, who produced a career-best when second at Lingfield earlier this month, and Blazed, an expensive purchase who needs to improve for the drop in trip, are also entered on the same day.

Jumps Trainer: Jamie Snowden

Three Jamie Snowden-trained runners have produced career best efforts over the past three weeks, including recent Uttoxeter winner Lunar Flow who was only a modest hurdler but he has now won two of his five starts over fences and was well clear with a well-handicapped horse who has since won over hurdles. The image below shows that Snowden does well with chasers, and Adrrastos could bid to further enhance both his own and his trainer’s reputation at Plumpton on Monday.

He won novice handicaps at Worcester in July and Stratford (by 10 lengths from Deauville Dancer) in August, and was a creditable third to Vosne Romanee at Worcester last time, sticking to the task well – he is likely to continue in form. Dans Le Vent was sixth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season but was left with too much to do and ran below that level sent hurdling after six months off when third at Huntingdon earlier this month. He is sure to improve on that sooner rather than later. Dans Le Vent also has an entry at Worcester, part of a large team for the yard which includes Double Treasure who is on a four-timer. A much improved performer of late, he made all in fine style at the track last time and shapes as if this longer trip will be within range.

Under the Radar: Marcus Tregoning

Marcus Tregoning featured in this section in early-September, but he has earned his place again, thanks to notable recent winners including Mukalal (9/2) and Imphal (2/1) earlier this month. A large proportion (70%) of his runners have been running to form, though – perhaps because of a strike-rate that doesn’t leap off the page – the yard’s good form hasn’t attracted an over amount of attention. The Derby-winning trainer sends Lady Vesta up to Pontefract on Monday, a venue he does well at (see figures below), and this daughter of his Epsom hero Sir Percy has shown enough in three bumper starts to suggest she could be of interest.

Her dam Lady Hestia was a stout stayer who won six races, including at nearby Doncaster, and this test of stamina could be exactly what Lady Vesta needs. Later in the week, Tregoning could have another bumper runner, with Celsiana entered at Exeter. A half-sister to six winners, including fair hurdler Highland Legacy, Celsiana failed to meet expectations on her debut at Towcester, held when badly hampered over a furlong out, but is clearly thought capable of better.