Hot To Trot: Great Scott!

Jumps Trainer: Nicky Henderson (Click trainer’s name to view a full list of entries)

A particularly mild winter has meant that the ground has generally been slightly quicker than is usually the case at this time of year, something which Nicky Henderson has capitalised on, as the below graph shows.

As you would expect from the Champion Trainer, Henderson has plenty of entries over the coming days, including Whatswrongwithyou, who is entered at Ffos Las on Monday and at Newbury on Wednesday. He made a promising chasing debut when second at Haydock just before Christmas, jumping safely and his early exuberance told in the closing stages having looked in control 2 out. He appeals as the type who's sure to progress and win races over fences, and is one to follow next week if taking his chance at either venue. 

Henderson has a total of 10 entries at Newbury on Wednesday, two of which are due to run in the novices' hurdle on the card; Elusive Belle and Dieu Benisse. The former showed useful form in three starts in Ireland in three starts for Ireland for Peter Fahey, and is worth a market check now owned by Robert Waley-Cohen, but it is Dieu Benisse who is the more interesting of the pair. Also entered at Ludlow a day later, she was fairly useful on the Flat as a three-year-old in France, and she shaped promisingly on her first start over timber at Wincanton on Boxing Day, held when second and falling at the last. She's sure to improve, and will be winning races sooner rather than later.

Later in the week, Henderson has several entries at Ludlow on Thursday, including Ganache and Gallahers Cross, who are entered in the maiden hurdle on the card. Ganche has only shown fair form in two bumper starts so far, and it is the latter who is the more interesting of the pair, having finished a solid fourth on debut at Ascot last month. He showed promise in an unconventional race which didn't suit him, and it would be no surprise should he take a big stride forward on his second start over timber. Over at Wincanton on the same day, Daphne Du Clos has an entry in a novice event, and she would have leading claims if taking her chance. We haven't seen her since winning a listed event at Newbury in February 2017 however, and this could be used as a pipe opener ahead of a tilt at some major races in the spring. 

Flat Trainer: Richard Fahey

Richard Fahey has made a particularly fast start to 2019, as the below graph shows, and he has a select number of entries on the All-Weather over the next few days. 

Piccothepack has an entry at Wolverhampton on Monday, in a six furlong handicap. She struggled in three quickfire starts since finishing second on debut at Chelmsford in April, shaping as amiss on her most recent start at Beverley in May. We haven't seen her since, but she's bred to be speedy (dam placed at 6f, and a half-sister to the very smart 5f-7f winner Tiddliwinks), and she may be worth another chance, particularly if the market speaks in her favour on the day. 

Fahey also has three entries at Newcastle on Thursday, beginning with Benji, who could take his chance in a seven furlong handicap. He was very green in his first two outings at Wolverhampton at the end of last year, but he showed his first piece of form to work on at Newcastle last time out. He's getting his act together just in time for handicaps, and he's one to keep an eye on now that he's qualified for a mark. 

Grise Lightning has two entries on the same card, in handicaps over both five and six furlongs. She ran no sort of race on fibresand debut at Southwell last time out, but she had been shaping as if she was on her way back to full form prior to that having been given a chance by the handicapper. Back on a suitable surface, she could get back on track sooner rather than later. 

Also worthy of a quick mention are Robeam and Ivory Charm, who are both entered at Southwell on Sunday. Robeam has yet to show any meaningful form on a regular basis, and is one to avoid at present, but Ivory Charm may be worth keeping an eye on. He offered something to work on when fourth on debut at Newcastle in November, and whilst he failed to improve at Lingfield last time, handicaps are more likely to be his thing. This run will earn him a mark, and he could prove to be well-treated down the line. 

Under The Radar: Jeremy Scott

Having started the season rather slowly, Jeremy Scott finds himself on what's easily his best run of form over the last five years, as the graph below shows. 

Nifty At Fifty holds an entry in a handicap hurdle at Fflos Las on Monday. Without his usual headgear, he showed more than he had in two starts previous over hurdles when fouth at Taunton last time, making good progress out wide from three out and keeping on gradually. Now qualified for handicaps, he may be capable of being competitve off a BHA-mark of 110. 

Scott has three entries at Fontwell on the same day in the form of Bang On (also entered at Wincanton on Thursday), Native Robin and Day of Roses. The latter blotted his copybook on return from a 568-day break over C&D last month, running out at the twelfth. He isn't one for full faith as such, but he has solid claims on form if running an honest race considering he completed a double in facile fashion when last seen, and may be worth another chance. 

Entered at Newbury on Wednesday is Our Dot's Baby, who has an engagement in the mares' novices' hurdle. She eeked out a bit of improvement for the extra couple of furlongs when second at Exeter last month, and there could be more to come yet - for all that she was seen to good effect that day in a falsely run race. Over at Plumpton on the same day, Scott is due to send a new recruit to the yard, in the form of Chance It, who's entered in the final race on the card. He's shown very little in three starts since switching from Ireland to the Jimmy Frost yard, but a change of scenary may revive his enthusiasm a little. He's only ever shown modest form at best, but in the scheme of the race, he's got every chance of making an impact, and market clues could be key. 

Last but not least, Garrane is an interesting entry at Wincanton on Thursday. He's been second on each of his three starts over fences so far, most recently at Exeter last month, something which has rather disguised the development he has made - especially most recently, when a good way clear of the rest. He's a strong stayer, and should win off his current mark sooner rather than later.