Hot To Trot: Peerless Palmer

Flat Trainer: Hugo Palmer (Click name to see full list of entries)

It has largely been a year of mixed fortunes for Hugo Palmer so far, as the graph below shows, but things are heading in the right direction once again as the Flat Turf season enters its closing stages.

Palmer has a few interesting entries next week, including Tenedos at Kempton on Monday evening. The three-year-old took a big step back in the right direction when finishing fourth over C&D on his most recent run last week, never nearer than at the finish, and he looks to be on a tempting mark at the moment. 

Hostess was sent off as the 33/1 outsider when fifth on debut at Newmarket last month, but she showed plenty of ability under a considerate ride, shaping well from her position in rear in a race where it paid to race closer to the pace, and she looks to have leading claims of getting off the mark at the second attempt at Lingfield on Tuesday.

Later in the week, Thunderbolt Rocks has an entry at Sandown on Wednesday, having shown improved form to win on handicap debut at Wolverhampton last time, and will be an interesting runner if taking his chance with more improvement expected.

Jumps Trainer: Brian Ellison

The summer months can be a testing time for National Hunt yards, but the Brian Ellison team have enjoyed a productive period.

Ellison has four entries at Hexham on Monday, the most interesting of which is Its Pandorama, who’s entered in the novices’ handicap chase on the card. The eight-year-old is lightly raced for his age, and shaped well when second on chasing debut at Cartmel in June, going with zest but doing too much too soon, and was headed leaving the home turn. With improvement likely, he has a live chance of opening his account over fences – particularly if granted an easy lead.

Also entered on the card is New List, who hasn’t been seen since running below form at Wetherby in December. He has been given plenty of time to freshen up from that, though, and could bounce back to form. Secret Passenger showed nothing on his first start since a breathing operation at Sedgefield last time and is best watched, whilst Tickerty Boo’s opening mark looked a steep one when finishing well held at Cartmel last time, though she has been dropped 2 lb in the weights for that performance.

Under The Radar: Amanda Perrett

Amanda Perrett has her horses is in fine form at the moment, enjoying her best spell for the past five years, as the graph below shows, with two winners from four runners last week.

Perrett has a strong record at Kempton (34 wins from 263 runs over past five seasons), and the in-form Port of Call looks to have the best chance of her three entries there on Tuesday evening. Things have really clicked into place of late, with the three-year-old completing a double in gritty fashion at Epsom last month, digging deep to battle back having been headed inside the final furlong. He has been raised just 1 lb for that win, and is fancied to make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Perrett’s record at Lingfield over the past five seasons is even stronger (36 wins from 231 starts), and she could be represented there on Tuesday by Tinto. The two-year-old already has plenty of experience under his belt, but he gave the impression that he was high enough in the weights when third at Sandown last month – though he has been dropped 1 lb for that run.

Later in the week, Spirit Ridge is due to head into handicap company for the first time at Beverley on Wednesday. He ran well under a penalty at Ffos Las earlier this month and is interesting from an opening BHA mark of 85. Meanwhile, Zhui Feng is entered in a listed contest at Sandown on the same day, and would have claims if rediscovering the form which saw him win at this level at Windsor in June.