Hot To Trot: Fergal flying along

Jumps trainer: Fergal O’Brien

A treble at Cheltenham’s showcase meeting last month showed that Fergal O’Brien’s team were in top form and his runners have continued to perform well since. Perfect Candidate was a popular, high-profile winner for the yard at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, the 12-year-old rolling back the years to win with a good deal of authority.

Good And Hardy (Chepstow on Wednesday) and Heavenly Promise (Ffos Las on Friday) also struck for the stable last week, while another three were placed, highlighting the health of the string.

Heavenly Promise, who made her first start for O’Brien in September, completed a quick-fire hat-trick in ready fashion at Ffos Las and holds two entries this week. She handled the testing ground especially well so it would be no surprise to see her return to that course on Thursday.

O’Brien is noted for his success in the bumper sphere and he could run Ask A Honey Bee and Karl Philippe for the first time under Rules. Ask A Honey Bee (entered at Southwell on Tuesday and Hereford on Wednesday) won a point in March, while Karl Philippe (entered at Hereford on Wednesday) is a half-brother to a Grade 2 winner in France and represents leading owners Paul and Clare Rooney so will be of interest.

Flat trainer: Archie Watson

Archie Watson had only five winners on the Flat last week – he had one winner from two runners over jumps – but he was successful with debutant The Perfect Crown, who looked a useful prospect when winning at Chelmsford.

The Perfect Crown, who is a half-brother to several winners, including the useful Absolute Blast, looked clued up on debut and stormed clear to strike by eight lengths. He is sure to progress and win more races.

Watson had three other runners reach the frame and his representatives are worth watching out for this week, notably Hassaad, who was beaten a neck at Newcastle on Friday after going through the contest like the best horse at the weights. That was only her second start over six furlongs since her debut, and she is clearly suited by the distance and ahead of her mark, so she is sure to be of interest if running at Kempton on Friday.

Harrison Point finished runner-up at a big price on debut and could bid to go one better at Chelmsford on Thursday, while Royal Nation was an eye-catcher last time and should be suited by the step up to a mile if asked to make her handicap debut at Kempton on Wednesday.

Letmestopyouthere has been knocking on the door of late and has good form on fibresand so is one to note if running at Southwell on Wednesday, while useful sprinter Corinthia Knight drops back into handicap company at Wolverhampton on Tuesday after disappointing at listed level last time.

Under The Radar: Lucy Wadham

Lucy Wadham was successful with Éclair de Guye at Fontwell last Sunday and Northern Princess at Huntingdon on Saturday and had another three horses placed in that period. Only three runners were unplaced and the yard is clearly in fine form.

Potters Hedger was beaten only by a subsequent winner on his return at Lingfield this month and is entitled to come on for that run. He doesn’t appear to have much in hand over the handicapper but was largely consistent last season, stays strongly and handles testing conditions so could be one to note if running at Doncaster or Newbury on Friday.

Trincomalee won a bumper at the second attempt, striking at 25/1 at Warwick in May, and shaped well on his hurdling debut at Sandown this month when not beaten far in third. He threatened to nick that race at Sandown, looking the likely winner and trading at odds-on in-running before perhaps being found out in the testing conditions. He looks sure to improve for that outing and could bid to get off the mark over hurdles at Newbury on Friday.