Hot To Trot: High-flying Henderson

Flat Trainer: John Gosden (Click to see a full list of entries)

The John Gosden team have, in most part, enjoyed a productive year so far, and they have hit a purple patch during the last couple of weeks, which has included Group success for both Roaring Lion and Too Darn Hot, at Leopardstown and Doncaster, respectively.

Gosden has some interesting entries at Kempton Park on Monday, including Daafr and War Eagle in a novice race over ten furlongs. The former was flying too high when fifth in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July, but produced his best display yet when second in a nursery at Kempton last time, and is likely to go on progressing for a while yet considering his big frame. War Eagle has shown more greenness than ability so far, but he was getting the hang of things late on at Epsom last month, and should find Kempton more straightforward.

Gosden also has several entered at Leicester on Monday, including Repaupo. He made a promising start when second on debut in a highly competitive contest at Ascot two weeks ago, doing everything but win on the day, and he has a bright future ahead of him. Petit Palais, who wore first-time blinkers when making a successful reappearance at Wolverhampton 17 days ago, will have every chance of going in again if taking his chance.

Handmaiden has three entries, at Kempton/Newcastle on Monday and at Chelmsford on Tuesday. She has shaped well in two starts so far, only finding one too good on both occasions, and will be of interest wherever she takes her chance.

Jumps Trainer: Nicky Henderson

The Seven Barrows operation has been ticking along nicely so far this summer and their runners have been performing well, particularly when the ground has been more testing – as the graph below shows.

Henderson has four entries at Warwick on Tuesday afternoon. One of those is the talented but quirky Full Bore, who made a successful hurdling debut at Bangor at the end of August. He’s far from an easy ride, having thrown away a bumper in the closing stages at Uttoxeter two starts ago and hanging left from two out at Bangor last time, but he is in excellent hands.

Beat That, formerly a very smart hurdler, holds an entry in the novices’ chase on the card. He’s found his feet over fences having initially struggled last term, taking novice contests at Southwell and Newton Abbot so far. There should be more to come if he can emulate the form he showed over hurdles, though a double penalty will make life tough, and it remains to be seen how productive he will be in the winter months.

Henderson is due to send two for a valuable handicap chase at Perth on Wednesday, in the form of Brave Eagle and Monbeg Legend. Both have enjoyed fruitful summer campaigns, but the former’s jumping issues mean that it’s Monbeg Legend who is perhaps the better prospect in the long term.

Under the Radar: Ed Walker

Though he’s not saddled a winner over the past week, the Ed Walker stable is enjoying its best spell for the past five seasons, with 70% of their horses running to form at present.

Big Bad Lol holds entries at both Hamilton and Newcastle on Monday. He has been running consistently well at the moment, placing in each of his last three starts, including when second at Ffos Las 17 days ago. He’s interesting off his current mark, and it’s worth noting that his only career win came on the all-weather; he could be most interesting if taking his chance at Newcastle.

Of Walker’s four entries at Kempton on Monday, the most eye-catching is Quality Seeker, who is going the right way in handicaps. His most recent effort to finish third over C&D was a career-best, and it’s likely that he can improve some more yet.

Another worth keeping an eye on is Iconic Knight, who has an entry at Goodwood on Wednesday. He shaped well in a very competitive contest there two starts ago, before grabbing his second win of the season at Wolverhampton last time. Walker appears to have ironed out some of Iconic Knight’s quirks – the horse looks much more straightforward as he’s matured – and his best days are probably still ahead of him.