Hot To Trot: For Your Eyes Only

Flat Trainer: Roger Varian  (Click to see a full list of entries)

Roger Varian has a habit of finishing the year strongly, as the graph below shows, though the yard has enjoyed a particularly strong second half of the year this time around, performing above average since the end of June.

Varian has several interesting entries next week, including Fabiolla, who is entered at Kempton on Monday and at Chelmsford on Wednesday. She produced a very promising effort to finish second on debut at Yarmouth last month, and a bit more know how may have even seen her win, running green before being hampered a furlong out and taking second close home. The daughter of New Approach is sure to progress and win races, and whilst she’s likely to come into her own as a three-year-old, she’ll take all the beating if taking her chance next week. Also entered at Kempton on Monday is Contrive, who got off the mark at Lingfield two starts ago before proving better than ever back in handicap company last time. She was suited by the positive tactics those day, only headed on the line, and raised just 3 lb, she should continue to give a good account.

On Tuesday, Varian has four entered in a novice contest at Kempton, the most interesting being Surfman (also entered at Nottingham on Wednesday). The son of Kingman is bred in the purple (half-brother to smart Kitesurf), and he shaped well when third on his debut at Nottingham last month, held back by inexperience but staying well under pressure. He's surely going to make into a useful 3-y-o at least, but a novice contest looks well within his remit this term. Dashed is another who showed plenty to work with on her debut, when sixth at Yarmouth last month, and is worth noting if taking up either of her two entries; at Redcar on Tuesday and at Chelmsford on Wednesday.

Jumps Trainer: Chris Gordon

As you can see on the graph below, the Chris Gordon yard tends to blow either hot or cold, with little room for middle ground, but they are enjoying a good spell as the 2018/19 National Hunt season begins to take over from the level. 

Gordon has three entries at Plumpton on Monday, beginning with Baddesley Knight, who also has entries at Chepstow on Wednesday and Newbury on Thursday. He showed improved form to open his account in bumpers at the third attempt at Plumpton in April, running to a fairly useful level, and he looks a nice hurdling prospect this term. Also entered at Plumpton on Monday are Ramore Will and Don’t Tell George, who are both due to run in the handicap hurdle on the card. The latter has shown only modest form in three starts over timber so far, and it is Ramore Will who would be of more interest if indeed taking his chance. He rounded off his campaign in fine form, putting in a solid effort in his bid for a hat-trick at Fontwell in May, and is likely to remain competitive now dropped 1 lb provided he’s ready to go on reappearance.

Later in the week, Shut The Box has an entry in a bumper at Chepstow on Wednesday. He had made an encouraging start to his career so far, shaping well after a 6 month break to finish second at Fontwell last month, having plenty of excuses for failing to see things out better (absence/longer trip/more testing going), and it would be no surprise should he be good enough to win a similar race.

Under The Radar: Declan Carroll

Declan Carroll is finishing the year strongly, recording two wins from five starts last week, and his string are performing well above average at the moment - as the graph below shows. 

Carroll has a small but select number of entries next week, including Pindaric and Buonarrotti, who are both entered at Redcar on Monday. The former has slipped to a basement mark, and took a step in the right direction when fifth at Newcastle in August, though he would need more now in selling company, and as such it is Buonarrottiwho is the more interesting of the pair. He turned in a rare poor effort at Haydock last time, but he’s generally held his form well this year, and it is worth noting that he won on testing ground at Ayr this time last year, from a mark 2 lb higher than his current one.

Jem Scuttle also holds an entry on Monday, in a nursery at Wolverhampton. He improved a chunk when second on his nursery debut at Newcastle last time, starting at a lowly level for one that cost £70,000, and he is likely to remain competitive raised 3 lb. Magojiro is also entered on the card, and would hold claims if continuing his recent run of consistency, hitting the frame at Newcastle on Friday.

Later in the week, Carroll has three entries at Nottingham on Wednesday, the most interesting of which is Honey GG. She showed a huge upturn in form from out of the blue to open her account at the tenth attempt at Ayr last month, forging clear to win by four and a half lengths, and an 11 lb rise may not be enough to stop her from following up.