Hot To Trot: Shark attack

Jumps Trainer – John Joseph Hanlon

John Joseph Hanlon, known affectionately as ‘Shark’, currently sits on top of the Timeform in-form trainer ratings. Not only have two of his last four runners won (10/1 and 4/1) at the time of writing, but he has had several horses placed (including at 12/1 and 14/1) this month from relatively few runners, and the vast majority of his horses have run to within 6 lb of their best. Apache Outlaw heads to Cork on Sunday for his first start for the yard, and he looks an interesting contender on a mark of 106 if able to recapture the form that saw him win a Taunton seller – beating horses rated 112 and 114 off level weights - last March. Wexford is the destination for Rare Legend, who produced his best effort to date over fences - though was comfortably brushed aside by the winner in the straight - when second at Thurles when last seen in January. However, the entries which catch the eye most are British ones later in the week. Adarenna, Ayelya and I See You Well all have entries at Towcester, with the beautifully-bred Ayelya probably the most interesting, as it’s only a matter of time before she gets her act together. Finally, Hidden Cyclone is currently a 25/1 chance for next Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. After finishing a gallant second (at that same price) in the Galway Hurdle in July, the 11-year-old has won his last two starts over hurdles and is capable of running well despite his advancing years.

Flat Trainer – Mick Easterby

Mick Easterby isn’t the easiest trainer to predict, as many a television producer will attest, however his is a yard to follow when the horses are running well. His strike-rate in November 2012 was 31%, just 7% a year later, 33% in the same month in 2014 (albeit from only six runners), and back down to 5% last November. So far this month Easterby has trained four winners at a strike-rate of 17%, with winners priced from 7/2 to 16/1, so it’s not just his well-fancied runners which punters need to take note of. That 16/1 winner, Kalk Bay, has an entry at Chelmsford on Monday and the way he won under hands and heels at Newcastle last time would suggest that he can go in again. Other interesting entries at the Essex venue include Aldreth, unlucky to bump into a well-handicapped horse at Newcastle last time, and Bowson Fred, who will appreciate a return to a happy hunting ground, a comment that also applies to Bosham.

Under The Radar – James Moffatt

Following the retirement of Cheltenham Festival winner Chief Dan George (William Hill Trophy winner in 2010), big-race wins for James Moffatt have been few and far between, with Highland Lodge’s Becher Chase win last December a clear highlight. However, Moffatt does well with the small number of horses at his Cartmel base and he has saddled two winners over the past week. The 10-year-old Smart Ruler, back under a fully-fledged rider, showed he's nearly as good as ever in ending a two-year losing run, while the four-years-younger Mondlicht produced a career-best effort when winning by 26 lengths at Musselburgh. He started his jumps career with John Ferguson (formerly with Mark Johnston on the Flat) and, having now found some consistency in blinkers, could follow up under a penalty if found a suitably weak race. Moffatt only has one horse entered next week, however Idder will head to Musselburgh on Thursday with a live chance. Fairly useful on the Flat for Roger Varian, Idder improved upon his sole start for Paul Webber when third on his stable debut at Ayr last month, and whilst he might show his best form in handicaps further down the line, it would be no surprise to see him run well here.