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Richard Hannon is of course far better known for his exploits on turf during the summer rather than on the all-weather during the winter, but he has been ticking over nicely with his runners in recent months, saddling 12 winners from 67 runners (strike-rate of 18%) in 2017 so far. With three of those winners (as well as plenty of placed horses) coming from his last 12 runners, he is heading in to April with his string in top form, and they are well worth watching out for in the coming weeks. Hannon’s most interesting entrant over the next week or so looks to be Oh This Is Us, who would tick plenty of boxes if he took his chance in the Lincoln at Doncaster on the 1st of April. Fit from a spell in Dubai (as last year’s Lincoln winner was) where he was an unlucky loser in early-February (forced to weave his way through during the final half-furlong), and proven at the track (won a handicap at Doncaster on his last domestic start), Oh This Is Us would be a lively Lincoln contender if lining up.
In terms of recent runners, there are few jumps trainers in Britain in better form than Nick Alexander, with four winners and three seconds from his last ten runners. Provided the ground isn’t too wet, Alexander looks set to saddle two runners at Hexham on Tuesday, including The Bishop, who probably should have won at the track last time out over hurdles. He is obviously not the most straightforward, but is clearly in good form at present, and is able to race from only 3 lb above his last winning mark. The yard also have Up Helly Aa King entered in a bumper on the same card. Up Helly Aa King is bred to be a fairly useful stayer over jumps, but made an encouraging bumper debut at Ayr earlier in March, and ultimately shaped as though the outing was possibly needed for fitness purposes.
Pam Sly’s current good run of form is definitely under the radar given that she has not saddled a winner since mid-February. Despite this, she has had plenty of her string run well, and has actually saddled five seconds from her ten runners so far in March. Her three entries for the coming week are all fairly interesting. She has All My Love entered at Market Rasen on Monday, and the five-year-old mare should have a good chance of registering a second C&D success now sent handicapping, having come up against an improver at Catterick last time. Sly also has Popelys Gull entered for a three-mile handicap hurdle on the same card. Popelys Gull is yet to win a race, but has done nothing wrong on her last two starts (finished second twice) and is slowly progressing on figures, so shouldn’t have to wait too much longer for a first success. Eskendash is another of Sly’s horses to have a current bout of 'seconditis', and has filled the spot on all four of his starts in bumpers to date. He is Flat bred, so it is no surprise to see him entered in a Flat maiden at Kempton on Wednesday, and he will go there having already achieved a fair level of form in bumpers.
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