Hot To Trot: Sharja needs keeping on side

Roger Varian

Roger Varian racked up eight straight winners earlier this week when Gibbs Hill won at Kempton on Wednesday evening by seven lengths, so it’s safe to say there isn’t a trainer in better form. Not surprisingly, Varian has a host of runners entered in the coming days, but Sharja Bridge, who has entries at both Ripon and Windsor on Monday, is one of the more interesting ones. The well-related colt shaped with plenty of promise on debut at Haydock last month, showing form good enough to win most maidens. He looks a sure-fire future winner and needs keeping on side wherever he turns up. Elsewhere, Dawn of Hope looks set to take her chance in a listed event at Pontefract on Tuesday. She wasn’t disgraced in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, and ought to prove competitive down in grade. On the same card, the lightly-raced five-year-old sprinter Atletico is bidding to resume winning ways, after showing he retains all of his ability following a lengthy absence at Ripon last month.

Michael Dods

Michael Dods recorded a remarkable 16 winners in June, and he is showing no signs of slowing down, having won races at Hamilton, Haydock and Pontefract already in July. Looking ahead, Dods has an interesting filly called Mecca’s Spirit entered at Ayr on Monday. She cost plenty as a yearling, and shaped promisingly on debut at Thirsk last month, not at all unduly punished. That was a good initial introduction and she will likely glean plenty from that experience. Archi’s Affaire is entered in race three at Ripon also on Monday, and he will be a leading player if taking his chance. He had his winning run ended at Hamilton last time, but lost little in defeat, showing improved form in fact, and given he pulled well clear of the third with the winner, he will be of plenty interest given he’s able to race off the same mark. At Pontefract on Tuesday, the quirky but talented Hernandoshideway could take his chance in the mile and a quarter handicap. He has won at the course before and, though he is hard to win with nowadays, there’s no denying he’s very well treated on the pick of his form.  

John Butler

John Butler has really turned a corner over the last few weeks, and with recent winners at 20/1 and 14/1, the market is clearly underestimating the form of his yard. Butler has a few entries at Ripon and Wolverhampton on Monday and Tuesday, but perhaps more interesting is Hackney Road, who won on just his second start for the yard at Kempton this week, and is entered in a six-furlong handicap back there on Wednesday. He remains lightly raced and, though he will be in a higher grade of handicap, he should have more to offer still and will remain of interest. Also on Wednesday, Haveoneyerself could take his chance in a minor event at Yarmouth. He is proving steadily progressive, and was only beaten a head at Hamilton last month. It doesn’t look the strongest two-year-old race for the track and Haveoneyerself will at the least hold sound place claims.