Hot to Trot: Easterby makes light of winter struggles

Flat trainer:

Clive Cox 

Clive Cox has made a fine start to the new Flat season and the victories of My Dream Boat in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and Profitable in Saturday's Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket will have given him more satisfaction than any other so far this campaign. Cox looks to hold several good chances with eight entries across the cards at Bath and Windsor on Monday. Threat Assessed hinted at ability when eighth behind the useful Algometer on debut at Newbury in October and should prove capable of better if taking up his engagement at Windsor, while Pine Ridge showed fairly useful form to open her account at Bath in October and the handicapper may have underestimated her with an opening mark of 75 in the final race on the card.

Jumps trainer:

Dan Skelton

Dan Skelton will have been disappointed to see the jumps season come to an end at Sandown last Saturday, given the fine form of his string at present. Ch’tibello and Two Taffs brought up the hundred for the season when giving the trainer a high profile double on Scottish Grand National day at Ayr and the yard has enjoyed a further five winners since, including Red Tornado’s victory at Sedgefield. A dual winner on the Flat for Harry Dunlop, Red Tornado is an interesting entry in the Chester Cup on Wednesday (also entered over hurdles at Newton Abbott) and would have to be respected if making the cut, while Dispour is also entered to make his debut for the yard next week. A useful performer for Donald McCain in his prime, he looks well-handicapped if revived by the change of scenery.

Under the Radar:

Mick Easterby

Mick Easterby has been firing in the winners without any great fanfare in recent weeks and it is interesting to note the improvement made by his runners from their first start of the season to their second. The likes of Kalk Bay, Gulf of Poets and Felix de Vega have all shown the benefit of a previous run when scoring next time out and that is hardly surprising given the troublesome weather conditions Easterby and his northern colleagues had to endure this winter. Trainers have been able to get as much work into their runners as they would have liked, but Felix de Vega was seemingly trained to the minute for his impressive victory at Ripon last time. He has a choice of engagements at Chester on Thursday and could well defy a 8 lb hike in the weights if in the same form, while Novelty Seeker could also be worth a second look on the same card after a recent pipe-opener at Doncaster.