Hot To Trot: Elementary Dr Watson

Jumps: Dr Richard Newland

Dr Richard Newland starred in this feature back in July, and the Worcestershire-based trainer has hit top form once again over the past month. All but one of his last 17 runners has run to form, resulting in five winners. While Sam Twiston-Davies is the usual go-to jockey for Newland, two of the aforementioned winners were ridden by Charlie Hammond – son of trainer Mike - who also enjoyed his first double at the end of August. The 20-year-old conditional jockey is another young rider to have cut his teeth in pony racing and has now ridden 14 winners, eight of which have come this season. Newland has four horses entered at Worcester on Monday, including Duke Street, a useful handicap hurdler who makes his chasing debut. He disappointed at Sandown when last seen in April, but found a busy spell catching up with him, a winless season not doing him any justice. He is bred to win a classic rather than a chase, but it’s worth noting that Newland trained Duke Street’s half-brother Act of Kalanisi, who was also picked up from Mark Johnston’s yard, to win over fences. Beau Bay has shown fairly useful form, winning a novice handicap chase at Perth (by 10 lengths) in August and running to a similar level when third at Newton Abbot last time; he remains open to improvement. Vosnee Romanee, winner of his first two starts over fences, has a bit more experience and has actually shown improved form on his last two outings despite suffering defeat. Finally, Desert Sensation had had a long season when below form on his final two starts in February, and makes some appeal on his return.

Under The Radar: Archie Watson

Archie Watson learned his craft with several prominent trainers, including as assistant to William Haggas, and it appears that plenty has rubbed off on the young Lambourn-based handler. He saddled four winners from 29 runs in 2016, and is operating at a very healthy 20% strike-rate in a second season which has yielded 37 wins from 185 attempts. Notable performers include Corinthia Knight who was second in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton, and Absolute Blast who has improved since switching from the yard of Iain Jardine. Given Watson’s horseracing education across the globe, it’s perhaps no surprise that Absolute Blast has been well-travelled of late, with Watson seeking out opportunities in Germany, Ireland and Turkey on the horse’s last three starts. A return to Ireland for the Group 3 Diamond Stakes could be on the cards later this month. Stablemate Amazing Alice could also be on her way across the Irish Sea, as she has an entry at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. The front runner won minor events at Chelmsford in June and Wolverhampton in July and August, and was a respectable third back at Chelmsford when last seen. Masarzain has been in similarly good form over the past month, winning at Salisbury and Musselburgh in August, and Musselburgh again (by five lengths) this month. He was a creditable half-length second at Epsom last time and has improved significantly since joining Watson in the summer (previously had three other yards despite only being four).

Flat Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott

Like Archie Watson, Sir Mark Prescott has also saddled 37 winners this season (at the time of writing), and this is traditionally a good time of year for the trainer as his horses are stepped up in trip (see visualisation below).

Prescott’s tally will undoubtedly rise this week, as he has a large number of horses entered, including Alternate Route who produced a clear career-best when tackling two miles for the first time at Kempton last time. Given the progress he made there, it would be a surprise were he not to run over the same distance at Chepstow (rather than over shorter trips at Brighton or Redcar) on Tuesday. It was a similar story for Send Up, who gained a first victory at Brighton last time, and who has entries at Carlisle and Yarmouth early in the week. A chance to spot the next ‘up in trip’ winner before it happens now: Diptych, who has raced over six and seven furlongs to date, has three entries over 1¼m+ on Monday and Tuesday. She is well-bred (first foal of a half-sister to Aussie Rules) and has always looked the type to improve this season when stepped up in distance.