Hot to Trot: King Keith can reach new personal best

Flat trainer - Roger Charlton

Roger Charlton has been lacking a stable star since the retirement of multiple Group 1-winner Al Kazeem last August, but he has never hidden the high regard in which Time Test is held and there is still plenty of optimism at the trainer's Beckhampton yard that he can make his breakthrough at the top level before too long. He made a successful start to the season in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown and wasn't seen to best effect when third on ground softer than he would have liked in the Eclipse at that venue two weeks ago. He is entitled to be thereabouts in the Juddmonte International at York next month and, with a second Group winner of the year coming courtesy of Decorated Knight in the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday, Charlton heads into the busiest part of the campaign in terrific form at present. Makzeem bumped into a potentially smart rival when second on his most recent outing at Newbury and that form would appear to give him sound claims of continuing the trainer's fine run at Windsor on Monday. Similar comments apply to the Queen's Maths Prize, who showed plenty of ability when second on his racecourse debut at Sandown and could return to that venue on Wednesday (also entered at Ffos Las on Tuesday). He should prove extremely difficult to beat with that initial outing under his belt, while Battlement was a comfortable winner at Kempton last time and is worth a second look if taking up one of her engagements at Doncaster on Thursday.

Jumps trainer - Noel Meade

Noel Meade has been the champion jumps trainer in Ireland seven times since taking out his licence in 1970 and, although Willie Mullins has dominated the battle for that title since Meade last won it in 2006/07, the County Meath trainer continues to be one of the best at getting his horses ready for the big day. Road To Riches has been a fine advert for Meade's skills in recent years, making the transition from Galway Plate winner to genuine Grade 1 performer and looking set to try and win the Galway feature again under a big weight later this month. He is the current market leader with most firms and punter's confidence will be buoyed by the steady form of the Meade string at present, with Jack Slade proving a tremendous flag-bearer in the last month. A winner at Bellewstown two weeks ago, he produced an even better effort in defeat when second at Downpatrick on Wednesday and should remain competitive off his new mark. The best chance of a winner for the yard next week, though, would appear to be Weightfordave, who holds an entry at Ballinrobe on Tuesday. He showed only modest form in three starts on the Flat, but shaped with promise on his hurdling debut at Sligo and is entitled to improve with that first outing for 13 months behind him. Stablemate Night Generation could be in action on the same card and is interesting on the back of an improved effort at Bellewstown, while The Herds Garden looks best of Meade's entries at Limerick on Thursday.

Under the radar - Keith Dalgleish

Keith Dalgleish has made giant strides since his first season with a licence in 2011, showing a year-on-year improvement in terms of both quantity and quality, and already well on his way to bettering the 75 winners he recorded in 2016. Maleficent Queen gave the trainer one of the biggest wins of his short career to date when landing the listed Rothesay Stakes at Ayr in May and wasn't disgraced under a big weight at Royal Ascot last time, while the two-year-old Lomu looked a fairly useful prospect when maintaining his unbeaten record at Hamilton in May. The momentum created by those victories has shown no signs of slowing down in recent weeks and, with nine winners already chalked up in July, Dalgleish looks set to better his previous best monthly tally. His best return in a calendar month currently sits at 14 and Toffee Apple could bring that target within touching distance if taking her chance at either Ayr or Beverley on Monday. She defied a penalty with a comfortable success at the latter venue recently, staying on to lead deep inside the final furlong and appearing to win with more in hand than the official winning margin suggests. She is entitled to respect in her hat-trick bid and could joined on the horsebox to Ayr by Lat Hawill and Archie's Advice. The former remains capable of better with just three starts for the yard to his name and can be forgiven a below par effort last time, while Archie's Advice should be thereabouts if running his usual sound race.