Hot To Trot: Hobbs in a hurry

Flat Trainer: Owen Burrows  (Click trainer name for full list of entries)

It’s been a bleak summer for Owen Burrows – as the graph below shows – but things are starting to pick up for a yard that didn’t have any runners between 17 August and 12 September.

Their patience has been rewarded, with 10 winners in the month of September at the time of writing. Amongst their interesting runners at the beginning of the week is Alsimsaam, who makes his handicap debut at Catterick. His dam was a 7f winner as a two-year-old and he should improve himself now upped to that trip on his nursery debut.

Bawaasil got off the mark in bloodless fashion at Bath last time and there's still time for him to develop into the useful colt he's bred to be; he makes his handicap debut at Kempton on Monday from a BHA mark of 88. Fellow three-year-old Althaaqib, who is unlikely to ever live up to his $1,900,000 price tag, clearly wasn’t 100% last time and isn’t one to give up on just yet.

Nottingham entry Ustath pulled clear of the rest when second to Swiss Air in a minor event at Lingfield last time, and remains with potential.

Jumps Trainer: Philip Hobbs       

After a traditionally quiet summer, the Philip Hobbs’ yard has taken its usual upturn, saddling six winners from its first eight runners in September, and is fast closing in on 2,500 winners in the UK and Ireland.

While most of the recent winners were well-backed, it’s worth noting that Worcester winner Contented was sent off at 14/1 so it’s wise to consider all runners from the yard over the next couple of weeks.

Hobbs has several entered at Newton Abbot on Monday, including Hurlstone Point in the opener. She is a half-sister to three winners, including the fairly useful hurdler Catherines Well, and appeared to relish the better ground when three lengths second to Blackdown Hills at Worcester last time.

War Sound hit the frame in all eight starts over fences last term, but is up against some promising sorts in the novices’ chase, so of more interest may be the well-related hurdling debutant Truckin Away in the following race.

Later in the week, Chef d’Equipe hasn’t been seen since getting bogged down in the mud at Ascot in January. He looks an interesting contender at Warwick on Thursday.

Under the Radar: Ismail Mohammed

It’s been a great summer for Ismail Mohammed, as the image below illustrates.

The Newmarket-based handler has a good record at Lingfield, and sends Heart Power there on Thursday. She was well below form at Sandown last time, racing freely, but is better judged on her maiden win at Meydan in March. She hasn’t beaten a rival on turf but may be more of a force now returned to the all-weather.

Earlier in the week at Nottingham, the in-form Nibras Galaxy should appreciate the forecast better ground in the staying handicap, while Nibras Again is a leading contender in the sprint but also wouldn’t want rain. Salisbury entry Now Beat It is likely to need a few more races to show what she can do judging by her debut.