Hot To Trot: In-form Henderson on French mission

Flat trainer: Michael Bell

Michael Bell has made a very positive start to the season, and as the graph below shows, he is performing better than is usually the case this early on in the year. Main Desire was a notable winner for him at York on Thursday, and he has several in with chances in the coming days.

Bell has made a good start with his two-year-olds, too, so Nuremberg will need monitoring in the market if making his debut in the first race at Carlisle on Monday. He is a half-brother to several winners and should be up to making an impact in what could prove to be an above-average minor event for the track looking at the entries. Flying Sparkle made a winning debut as a juvenile and could run in a minor event at either Redcar on Monday or Ayr on Tuesday. She has a BHA mark of 87, which would make her competitive wherever she turns up, but she could be better suited by the six furlongs at Ayr. At Nottingham on Tuesday Arabian Jazz should be competitive in the fillies’ handicap over a mile. She showed improved form to win her first handicap at Beverley last time and could yet have more to offer.

Jumps trainer: Nicky Henderson

At the time of writing, Nicky Henderson’s latest form figures read 110112221151, so it is safe to say the yard are firing on all cylinders at present.

He has some interesting runners in the coming days also, starting with L’Ami Serge in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil on Sunday. He proved better than ever when winning the race 12 months ago, and arguably arrives at the top of his game after winning the Aintree Hurdle last time, so commands maximum respect once more. On the same day at Market Rasen Cool Macavity makes a fair bit of appeal. He hasn’t been seen since disappointing at Kempton in November, but all his best form has come on a sound surface, and he has likely been kept fresh with a summer campaign in mind. At Southwell on Wednesday Henderson could have several runners, but the one that stands out is French Crusader, who made the most of a good opportunity at Towcester last time, and strikes as the type that has even more to offer.

Under the radar: Julie Camacho

Julie Camacho has come flying out of the blocks this season and she is well worth following in the coming days. As the graph below demonstrates, Camacho is generally better with older horses, and has a couple this week that should go well.

Admittedly, Kirkham will have to improve on his reappearance if he is to be competitive in the last race at Carlisle on Monday, but he shaped as though he would come on for the run that day, and he isn’t badly handicapped on the pick of his form. Majestic Stone also shaped as though he’d come on for the run at Thirsk last time, one paced in the final furlong but not beaten far, and he can go well if taking his chance at Ayr on Tuesday. The step up to a mile will also suit and he should be up to defying his basement mark in time. Dalton, who is set to contest a useful six-furlong handicap at Ayr on Tuesday, could be one of Camacho’s best chances this week. He won first time up last season for David O’Meara and, though he lost his way after, he starts out for a new in-form yard on a workable mark, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in the market.