Hot To Trot: More for Oliver?

Flat Trainer: Stuart Williams

A couple of three-year-olds – Maratha and Jan’s Joy – have produced career-best performances recently for Stuart Williams. Though only the former won (well-backed to do so), both help illustrate that the yard’s horses are running well, as they often do at this time of year, with P.J. McDonald a relatively recent beneficiary. The northern-based jockey rode three winners from 11 rides for Williams in 2017, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for when they team up in the near future.

Maratha is entered at Wolverhampton on Monday, and, unexposed over this trip and further, he is still of interest from this 5 lb higher mark. Pinnata has only disappointed once in handicaps and, for all he did enough to prove himself over 1¼m last time, should be suited by the drop in trip. Lunar Deity has more to prove, having beaten just 10 of his 49 rivals since winning at Brighton last June. He’s tumbling down the weights, but is hard to fancy at present unless the market suggests otherwise.

Jumps Trainer: Sue Smith

Sue Smith had two winners at Sedgefield on Friday, a track where she is a familiar face in the winner’s enclosure. Interestingly, though, she has a higher percentage of horses placed at the track, with her horses only running more consistently at Kelso and Musselburgh. As you can see from the graph below, her season has followed a well-trodden pattern, with January often a key month for the yard as a whole.

Swing Hard looks averagely handicapped at best but should come on for his reappearance at Haydock at the end of last month; he is entered at Ayr on Tuesday. Perhaps of more interest are a clutch of entries at Market Rasen on Wednesday. Not much was expected of Absolutely Dylan (sent off 40/1) when third on his hurdling debut at the track last month, however he showed a bit to work on, while Red Danaher’s winning margin from Sedgefield was flattering but he looked to have the measure of his rival when left clear at the last. Fellow 11-year-old Dartford Warbler didn’t jump well enough when in with a chance at Sedgefield last time, but he’s now on a very attractive mark and his last win came over C&D.

Under the Radar: Henry Oliver

Robin Dickin was a contender for this category this week, however it’s his former stable jockey Henry Oliver who nicks his place. His recent good form was topped by the 10-year-old Dresden winning at Catterick on Thursday, a horse who will still be well treated on old form though will likely be back competing in better company next time. As the visualization below shows, inclement weather and testing ground at this time of year seems to sort Oliver’s horses, and it’s worth paying particular attention to his runners when the going gets tough.

Keel Haul fell at the first at Market Rasen on Boxing Day but has a chance to make amends reverting to hurdles at Plumpton on Monday. He’s very well handicapped in that sphere and everything looks in place for a big run, assuming his jumping holds up. Yorgonnahearmeroar has plenty to prove over fences, though gained his sole win over hurdles at Hereford, so could surprise a few back at the track on Wednesday, while Hirjan and Trojan Lass are entered in a mares’ race at Ludlow on Thursday. The latter showed an aptitude for hurdling but didn’t seem to stay at Catterick last time, while Trojan Lass showed very little in three starts for Henry de Bromhead in 2017; she’s one to watch in the market for any support.