Hot To Trot: Move is Swiftly going up the ranks

Flat trainer: William Haggas

William Haggas is one of the hottest trainers around on Timeform’s scale, operating at a 26% strike rate for the season and a run-to-form ratio of 71%. As the graph below shows, he is also in better form than is usually the case for this time of year.

As you would expect for a yard of this size, Haggas has plenty of entries over the coming days, starting with Move Swiftly in the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. She has to give weight away all round, but she looked better than ever when winning at Royal Ascot last month, the manner of that success suggesting that won’t be her limit, too, and another bold bid is expected. Two Bids is another potential winner for the yard in the mile and a quarter maiden at Windsor on Monday evening. He shaped with plenty of promise in a good-looking maiden at Sandown last month and, bred in the purple, there should be plenty more to come. One Wednesday, Reassure is a likely-looking newcomer who should go well if taking her chance. Haggas’ two-year-olds have been going along nicely, and it would be no surprise to see a prominent showing on debut.

Jumps trainer: Neil Mulholland

As the graph below determines, Neil Mulholland has his string further forward than in usually the case for this time of year, and his runners moving forward have to be of interest as a result.

At Stratford on Sunday, Mulholland has several horses declared, but his best chance could come in the shape of Boy In A Bentley. Admittedly, he isn’t the most straightforward type, but he has fallen to an attractive mark, and shaped as though he would come on for the run on his return from six months off at Market Rasen last time. On Tuesday, Carolines Charm strikes as the type that will do better now contesting handicaps. She was pulled up on her debut in that sphere, but travelled better than most on that occasion, and is well worth another chance from a mark that shouldn’t prove beyond her. Code of Law is entered at Southwell on Thursday where he will bid for a quick-fire double after winning by seven lengths at Stratford last time. On handicapping terms, he will be well in turned out under a 7 lb penalty, and ought to give backers a good run for their money.

Under the radar: John Best

John Best is a trainer that is going along nicely, already saddling 11 winners this season, and operating at a run-to-form ratio of 71%. He has already more than trebled his winners tally from last year, and he is a trainer to keep on side at present.

Best only has the one entry this week, and that is Mullarkey at Lingfield on Wednesday. He’s entered in the first race, and isn’t badly handicapped on the pick of his form, finishing second from this mark at Nottingham last month. Admittedly, he wasn’t in the same form last time, but he is generally a consistent sort, who should be suited by the switch back to an all-weather surface (two of his three wins have come on the all-weather). Looking further ahead, Eddystone Rock holds an entry in the Ebor at York next month. He will likely have to go up a bit in the weights, but will remain of interest, and will be suited by the demands of the race.