Hot To Trot: Gosden set to unleash his Stars

Flat trainer: John Gosden

John Gosden is responsible for many of the stars set to sparkle on Champions Day on Saturday and he could hardly have his team in better form going into the event. He has registered 12 winners from 39 runners at a strike-rate of 31% this month, and hit a particular hot streak last week, sending out five winners in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Stradivarius, who is set to defend his crown in the Champions Long Distance Cup, and Star Catcher, who will bid to make it three Group 1s on the spin in the Fillies & Mares Stakes, will be considered bankers by many punters and stable form certainly cannot be used as an excuse if they fail to fire.

Dominant! Star Catcher wins the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille for @FrankieDettori and John Gosden at @paris_longchamp pic.twitter.com/FNTMUSaaIi

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 15, 2019

Prior to Champions Day Gosden also has plenty to look forward to. Donnybrook caught the eye when finishing third at Kempton, earning the Large P symbol which signifies substantial improvement is expected, and the €900,000 yearling should prove tough to beat at Yarmouth on Monday.

There will be plenty of eyes on Almighwar when he makes his debut (holds an entry at Redcar on Friday). The son of Dubawi is out of Gosden’s Oaks winner Taghrooda, so boasts an exceptional pedigree, and it will be interesting to see what level he can reach.

Star Spirit, a daughter of Deep Impact out of French Oaks winner Star of Seville, is another juvenile bred in the purple who will attract plenty of interest on debut. She could start out at Nottingham on Wednesday.

Jumps trainer: Philip Hobbs

Champion Bumper third Thyme Hill made the perfect start to his hurdles career when winning a Grade 2 at Chepstow on Friday and looks set to take high rank in the division. He was set a stiff test on his hurdles debut but passed the test with flying colours and was motoring at the line, suggesting there is plenty more to come.

Placed in the Champion Bumper, Thyme Hill produces a classy performance on his hurdling debut under @dickyjohnson77 for @PJHobbs1 to land the @UnibetRacing Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at @Chepstow_Racing... pic.twitter.com/xosbUcTocF

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 11, 2019

Thyme Hill was Hobbs’s sixth winner of the month, so the yard is clearly in fine fettle, and he has some interesting entries this week, including Westend Story, who himself was a leading bumper performer a few years ago. He hasn’t gone on as expected, but did shape well in a strong race on his chasing debut at Exeter in December, finishing fourth behind Defi Du Seuil, Topofthegame and Black Op. He could make his first start since that promising introduction at Uttoxeter on Friday.

McNamaras Band was a wide-margin winner over hurdles at Chepstow when last seen in March and he could make his reappearance and handicap debut at Uttoxeter on Friday. That Chepstow win was just his third start over hurdles, and his fourth under Rules (won a bumper on debut), so he could do much better this season.

Under the radar: Richard Hughes

Richard Hughes has had three winners this month from 14 runners at a healthy strike-rate of 21%. However, that underplays just how well the trainer’s horses have been running. He has had a further six horses placed, so 64% of his runners this month have finished in the top three.

Freshwater Cliffs showed much improved form when chasing home a decent prospect in Cobber Kain at Chelmsford, and Ryan Moore is an interesting booking for the son of Canford Cliffs on his nursery debut at Yarmouth on Monday.

Caspian Queen shaped as if seven furlongs was just beyond her optimum when finishing a creditable fourth at Newmarket last time and she should relish dropping back to six furlongs at Leicester on Tuesday.

So I Told You produced an encouraging performance on her debut at Bath, despite going off at a big price, and she looks sure to progress from that promising first outing. She has options at Nottingham and at Redcar this week and is worth looking out for.