Hot To Trot: Saeed Bin Suroor has struck good form

Flat trainer: Saeed bin Suroor (Run To Form percentage = 75%)

Saeed bin Suroor has his string in excellent nick as we approach the back-end of the Flat turf season. And, while opportunities on turf are drying up, the all-weather provides a platform to shine.

Raaeb had found Kinross too hot to handle at Newmarket but had little trouble defying a penalty at Kempton on Tuesday, showing fairly useful form as he quickened well to register a comfortable success. He could be good enough to make the team heading out to Dubai, but will be one to note if contesting all-weather races in Britain over the winter.  

Faakhirah also won at Kempton during the week, beating a decent prospect in Evening Spirit on Wednesday. She’s made a promising start, with the notable exception of one blip at Newcastle, and remains open to plenty of improvement.

Bin Suroor could be represented at Kempton on Thursday with Cantiniere, who has looked progressive of late. She won at Lingfield and then followed up with something in hand at Wolverhampton. She will merit plenty of respect in her hat-trick bid.

Last-time-out winner Jalaad will also be interesting if taking up his engagements at Kempton on Monday or Nottingham on Wednesday. He is a quirky customer but the form of his Newcastle success has been boosted by the runner-up who has scored twice since, and he could still be fairly treated.

Jumps trainer: Brian Ellison (RTF% = 83%)

Brian Ellison fired in five winners in a row between Thursday and Sunday last week, so clearly has his string operating in top form.

Snookered was the last of those five winners and he appears to have been transformed of late, racking up three wide-margin wins in succession, dominating from the front.

Ellison has a fine record with new recruits and proved that point again at Carlisle on Thursday when the rejuvenated Duke Debarry bolted up by ten lengths on his first start for the yard.

Largy Mouth won’t need rejuvenating having finished a promising second on his debut, but he could be an interesting runner for the yard at Bangor on Tuesday or Fakenham on Wednesday. He shaped nicely on his only start for Stuart Crawford, chasing home a stablemate at Ayr, and should have benefited from the experience.

The temperamental First Flight looks to be in the grip of the handicapper, but he has been going through a decent run of form recently and will relish testing conditions at Catterick if taking up his engagement on Tuesday.

Under The Radar: Michael Scudamore (RTF% = 76%)

Michael Scudamore has yet to have a winner in October but his horses have largely been running to form and he has had plenty of runners finish in the frame. In the week between Wednesday, 16 October and Wednesday, 23 October he had seven runners, with only one finishing outside the first three.

Thor De Cerisy was one of those who ran well in defeat. He finished runner-up at Uttoxeter, beaten only by a useful prospect in Prudhomme. Thor De Cerisy was thought good enough to contest the Champion Bumper last season and should have no trouble winning over hurdles.

Scudamore is most closely associated with Monbeg Dude, who won the rescheduled Welsh National in January 2013 and was a regular presence in staying handicap chases. The similarly-named Monbeg Aquadude may not reach those heights but he is worth keeping an eye on if taking up an engagement at Ayr or Chepstow in the coming days. He made little impression on his chasing debut at Ffos Las when last seen in November, but he showed enough ability to win a maiden hurdle the previous year and is a chasing type on looks, so could justify the patience his connections have shown.