Hot To Trot: Boy In The Bar's round

Flat trainer: Ian Williams

As the graph below demonstrates, the Ian Williams yard have had a real upturn in form since the start of September and he is showing no signs of slowing down, The Statesman running out a very impressive winner over hurdles at Ludlow on Wednesday.

Despite the National Hunt season starting to take shape now, Williams still has several chances on the Flat in the coming days, starting with Bamako du Chatelet at Goodwood on Sunday. He returned to form at Epsom last time beaten less than three lengths into third, but has subsequently been dropped 3 lb by the handicapper, and looks fairly treated on the pick of his form. On the same card, Boy In The Bar will bid to follow up his C&D win earlier in the season in the six-furlong handicap. He was a good third off this mark at Newmarket in June, so isn’t without hope with a visor replacing cheekpieces in what looks a competitive affair. On Monday So Celebre holds an entry for the 1½m handicap at Musselburgh and should also go well after taking a step back in the right direction at Sandown last time. Others to keep on the right side include Tomahawk Kid at Yarmouth (also on Monday) and Prince Jai who could take his chance at Kempton on Tuesday.

Jumps trainer: Dr Richard Newland

Dr Richard Newland has had a good time of it over the summer and his runners continue in form. He hasn’t got the biggest string, but he is very effective with the horses he does have, so he remains a trainer to keep an eye on.

Sioux Chieftain was a little disappointing on her return from a break at Ludlow on Wednesday, but she is entitled to come on for that and could go well if taking her chance at Huntingdon on Tuesday. However, Newland appears to hold much stronger claims with Beau Bay in the fourth race later on the card. The six-year-old was unlucky to run into a well-treated rival at Hexham earlier this month, only beaten a neck and pulling four lengths clear of the third, and he should make a bold bid to go one place better from the same mark. Audacious Plan will also be of interest if running in the sixth race after making a promising debut for the yard at Uttoxeter recently. He was well backed, but just found an improver too strong late on having travelled like the winner for the majority of the race. Audacious Plan remains well handicapped on the pick of his form and is well up to winning more races.

Under the radar: Rose Dobbin

The graph below shows the sudden upturn in form the Rose Dobbin yard is enjoying at the minute – she has saddled two winners from eight runners in the last week – and her runners should be kept on side in the coming days.

Dobbin doesn’t have any entries until Wednesday at Wetherby, where Jonniesofa has the option of running in a novice chase or handicap hurdle. He hasn’t been seen since finishing held in the Albert Bartlett at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, so clearly he’s had a few problems, but he’s still only seven and with few miles on the clock, he could yet have more to offer. Given he has won twice before in points, and has the physique of a chaser, you’d be more hopeful if he makes his debut over fences, but an official mark of 137 over hurdles wouldn’t be beyond him if at his best after a long lay-off. Moving on to Thursday at Carlisle, Dobbin could potentially have four runners, including unexposed hurdlers Slanelough and Witness Time who should give a good account if turning up in the 2m novice hurdle.