Hot To Trot: Skelton brothers can continue to flourish

Flat Trainer: Andrew Balding (click here to see all entries)

Andrew Balding enjoyed a productive June, closing the month with a fine double at Chester courtesy of Urban Aspect and Crossing The Line, and he has begun this month in a similar mood.

He has two entries at Windsor on Monday, Deliverance, and, more interestingly, Fireflight, who is also entered in a novice contest at Kempton on Wednesday. She shaped with promise when fourth on debut at Sandown last month, held back by her inexperience that day, and she will be difficult to beat if progressing on her second start as expected.

Balding could then have runners spread across the country on Wednesday with three entries at Catterick and five at Kempton. Soldier To Follow holds engagements at both, and would be an interesting proposition wherever they decide to run him. He wasn’t seen to best effect when only sixth on his most recent start at Lingfield in May, getting shuffled back at an early stage and never recovering. He appeals as the type to do betting in time, particularly when switched to handicaps.

Also entered at Kempton is Sir Pass I Am, who is running below form at the moment but is sliding down the weights, and Face Like Thunder, who continues to look unexposed having made his handicap debut at Newbury last time.

Jumps Trainer: Dan Skelton

Considering that Harry Skelton’s challenge for the Jump jockey’s title is going from strength to strength this summer, it will be of no surprise to learn that his brother Dan is currently enjoying a rich vein of form, starting the season brighter than he has done so in the past.

It is likely that Harry will be kept busy over the next few days, too, with his brother having no less than eight entries at Worcester on Monday, including Longhouse Sale, who could run in the bumper on the card, having looked potentially useful when winning easily on debut at Market Rasen last month.

Skelton has multiple entries in a few of the races, but it is likely his brother will side with Stylish Dancer in the novice hurdle on the card, who should have won last time out had she not have made a bad mistake at the last. Weightfordave fell at the first at Southwell last time, but looks to have been found another good opportunity on the same card, though like Stylish Dancer he’s also entered at Uttoxeter a day later, whilst Winner Massagot is another to note in the final race.

Skelton also has six entries at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, the most interesting of which could be Atlantic Storm. The six-year-old made a winning return to fences at Southwell last month, and whilst he jumped a little low, he looks open to improvement yet and he could well be up to going in again.

Under the radar: Ian Williams

Whilst Ian Williams is enjoying a productive spell on the level at the moment, it is in the Jumps sphere where he is enjoying a particular purple patch, with around 75% of his yard running to form over the past six weeks or so – as the below graph shows.

Williams has two entries over the next seven days, starting with Glengra who remains lightly raced for a nine-year-old, and whilst he has struggled of late, he has suggested in the past that he could win races, and he could well get on a good run sooner or later.

Entered at Uttoxeter a day later is Tick Tock Boom, who ran his best race yet when second on handicap debut at Worcester last month, and he is likely to be a threat raised just 3 lb for that success in an open-looking contest.