Hot To Trot: Skelton set for another profitable week

Flat Trainer: Hughie Morrison

Hughie Morrison is going through a tough ordeal at present, having been accused of doping one of his horses earlier this year, but he seemingly isn’t letting that bother him, as he’s one of the hottest trainers around at the moment. Prosecution is entered in handicaps at both Leicester and Windsor on Monday and, having shown steady progression in all-weather maidens during the winter, he looks just the type to improve now handicapping. His dam stayed 1½m, so a step up in trip would likely see him in a better light, therefore he would be of more interest if turning up at Leicester over 1¼m. Helfire was a recent winner over seven furlongs at Kempton and she is set to take her chance over the same C&D on Wednesday. She has been put up 3 lb for that success, but she is of more interest than most at this level and looks sure to go well again. Beach Party, who is a nicely-bred filly, could also make her debut next week, while the returning Pastoral Music likewise has an entry at Kempton, and could have more to offer this year too.

Jumps Trainer: Dan Skelton

Dan Skelton has been operating at a very healthy strike rate in the last two weeks, and he has an array of entries in the coming days. Speed Demon is a very well-handicapped horse based on his Irish form of two years ago, and he got back on track when runner-up at Stratford on debut for Skelton last month. He looks to have been found a good opportunity at Fakenham on Sunday and he is fancied to go one better. On the same card, Coroberee attempts to open his account over hurdles. He ran to a useful level when winning on his Flat debut for John Gosden in 2016, so you could say he’s been a little disappointing on both starts in this sphere. However, this looks an ordinary maiden hurdle, and he has shown enough to make him of interest. Skelton also has numerous entries at Newton Abbot on Monday, including last-time-out winner Sierra Oscar. He was very strong in the market on handicap debut last time and duly showed his opening mark to be a lenient one, and he remains open to further improvement. Ashoka, Calling des Blins and Ravens Hill could all too take their chance in what could be another profitable week for Skelton.

Under the radar: Scott Dixon

At the time of writing, Scott Dixon has recorded 13 wins in 2017, but nine of those came in May, so it’s safe to say he is in cracking form at present, and he has plenty of horses entered in the coming week. Dixon recorded his first two-year-old winner at Nottingham on Wednesday and Jaffar – an unraced two-year-old – could potentially make his debut at either Leicester or Thirsk on Monday. Socialites Red was also a winner on that Nottingham card, and he could take his chance at either Ayr or Thirsk on Monday. He won only narrowly on Wednesday, but he is going through a good spell at present, and it would be folly to ignore his claims if making the trip North. Another recent winner, Albert Boy is entered at Thirsk and Yarmouth in the next few days, and will be of interest wherever he turns up. He won an apprentice handicap emphatically by five lengths at Leicester last time and, escaping a penalty for that success, connections will be hoping to get him out as quick as possible in an attempt to land a quick-fire double.