Hot To Trot: Jefferson dreaming of more top level success

Flat Trainer: Richard Hannon

Richard Hannon has endured a slightly frustrating campaign by his - and, for that matter, his father's before him - very high standards and looks set to fall a fair way short of the impressive prize money totals he recorded in his first two seasons with a licence. Hannon has lacked a real stable star to help in that regard, but his tally of 163 winners in 2016 is by no means a bad return and Ventura Storm provided his trainer with a belated first Group 1 winner of the year when landing the Premio Jockey Club at San Siro three weeks ago. That victory initiated what has been a productive spell for the yard and the Marlborough handler could hardly be in better form as the turf season reaches its conclusion (six winners from last 26 runners). Hannon looks set to be well-represented at Kempton on Wednesday in an effort to continue his good run. Kool Kompany would appear to be one of his better chances having finished second to stablemate Estidhkaar on his most recent outing in a listed race at Newmarket, while Auric Goldfinger produced the best effort of his short career to date when second at the venue last time and should be thereabouts if building on the promise of that outing in the mile nursery.

Jumps Trainer: Malcolm Jefferson

Malcolm Jefferson enjoyed the most prolific season of his training career to date in 2015/16, saddling 37 winners over obstacles and doing so at an impressive strike rate of 22%. That statistic highlights the steady progress Jefferson has made since sending out his first winner in 1981 and the quick start Jefferson has made to the 2016/17 campaign suggests there could be even more to come this time round. Indeed, the Norton handler has already saddled 16 winners at this relatively early stage of proceedings and will be hoping exciting prospects Cloudy Dream and Cyrus Darius can make their presence felt at the highest level in the coming months. The former made the perfect start to his chasing career at Carlisle last month and kick-started what has been a golden spell for the Jefferson stable, with ten winners from his last 22 runners. Ballyben was successful on that same Carlisle card and could attempt to follow up from 9 lb higher in the weights at Ayr on Wednesday. He would appear to hold sound claims if arriving in the same form and could be joined on the trip across the border by Hi George, who hasn't been sighted on the track since December 2014. He showed a useful level of form when defeating Holywell on his chasing debut, though, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on his return to action.

Under the Radar: Sandy Thomson

Seeyouatmidnight has proved a real flagbearer for Berwickshire trainer Sandy Thomson in recent seasons and he made a perfect start to the 2016/17 campaign when getting the better of Bristol de Mai in an intermediate chase at Carlisle recently. Connections are reportedly keen to have another crack at the top level with their stable star in the not too distant future and this month's Betfair Chase at Haydock could feature on his agenda, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup a target further down the line. The trainer has around 30 other horses to preoccupy him in the meantime, though, and will be hoping he can build on his string's fine form of recent weeks (three winners from last eight runners). Blue Kascade was a five-length winner of his most recent outing at Wetherby and could attempt to defy an 8 lb hike in the weights at Ayr on Wednesday, while Rowdy Rocher shaped well when second on debut for the yard at Kelso in April and has a choice of engagements as he also makes his return to action at the home of the Scottish Grand National.