Hot To Trot: Take the risk with Richards' runner

Jumps trainer: Venetia Williams (Click trainer’s name to view a full list of entries)

Numerically, last season was the worst that Venetia Williams has endured for more than 20 years, with her tally of 34 winners a long way from the high of 90 recorded in 2012/13. As the graph below shows, the current campaign didn't get off to the best of starts, either, but there have been definite signs of a recovery in recent weeks and, Williams will be hoping to build on that with a clutch of entries over the festive period.

The success of Yala Enki at Bangor earlier this month will have given William particular satisfaction, when you consider what a good servant he has been to the yard in recent years, and she will be hoping the nine-year-old can record a tenth career success in Thursday's Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. Admittedly, a 4 lb rise in the weights is going to make life tougher, but he appears to have all the attributes to thrive in a race of that nature, a thorough stayer who is proven in the mud. Yalltari will also be of interest if taking up his entry later on the same card, a three-time winner over fences who proved better than ever when second on his recent chasing debut over C&D. 

Others to consider include Achille and Subcontinent, both of whom hold entries at Wincanton on Boxing Day. The former turned in his best effort for this yard when second at Bangor last time, and the drop to 0-125 company could be enough to see him back to winning ways, worth remembering that he was rated higher still when trained in France. Subcontinent appears to have less in hand, but it is hard to fault his consistency and there is no reason why he shouldn't continue to give a good account.

Flat trainer: David Loughnane

If his runners perform as well next season as they have been doing at the end of this one, David Loughnane is likely to be a very happy man. With six winners from his last 20 runners, it's fair to say that Loughnane is ending 2018 with a bang and, though only four of his horses hold entries in the coming days, all of them would appear to hold sound claims of continuing the yard's winning run.

The pick of them could be Fayetta, who has shown a fair level of form in two starts for Loughnane to date. She improved again when third in a minor event at Lingfield last time, beaten just a length and three quarters, and the way she saw her race out suggests that the longer trip at Wolverhampton on Thursday could unluck further progress. Kaser is entered on the same card and also makes some appeal on just his third start for the yard. A winner over C&D at the beginning of the month, he ran creditably when third from 4 lb higher back here last time, and it would be no surprise to see him thereabouts once again.

The other two entries are in at the same track on Boxing Day. Critical Thinking proved better than ever when winning his most recent outing over C&D, despite his rider putting up 1 lb overweight, and all looks sets fair for another big run from just 3 lb higher. Meanwhile, False ID has won two of his last four starts and can have a line put the latest of them at Lingfield, where he was always on the back foot after blowing the start. He is very much the type to bounce back quickly.

Under the radar: Nicky Richards

A bold jumping, front-running grey who won 17 races and over £680,000 prize money, Monet's Garden was one of the most popular horses in training, and there was unsurprisingly an outpouring emotion when it was announced at the end of November that he had passed away. Nobody will have been more gutted than his former trainer Nicky Richards, but the Greystoke handler has at least had more reason to smile in recent weeks - indeed, his string could hardly be in better form at present, with eight winners from his last 12 runners.

Richards is currently responsible for four entries at Wetherby on Boxing Day, including two in the feature race, the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. Baywing left the impression he would strip fitter for his return at Newcastle, but it is his stablemate Takingrisks who makes most appeal of the pair. He produced a career best when second at Haydock last time and remains potentially well treated from only 2 lb higher, with further progress likely given a stiffer test of stamina (forecast is for softer ground than at Haydock). Also worth a mention is Glittering Love, who was impressive when making a successful chasing debut at Hexham recently. This multiple point winner is entitled to improve with that experience under his belt, especially now going up in trip, and he looks sure to take all the beating if turned out quickly under a 6-lb penalty.

Duke of Navan is entered at the West Yorkshire track on Thursday and cannot be discounted if bouncing back from a disappointing effort at Ascot, though Richards himself is likely to be elsewhere on the day. Indeed, the yard's most high-profile runner of the festive period lines up on the other side of the Irish Sea, as Simply Ned attempts to repeat his 2017 heroics in the Paddy's Rewards Club 'Sugar Paddy' Chase at Leopardstown. This year's renewal looks much more competitive, but this rising 12-year-old proved at least as good as ever when second in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last time, and should run his race once again.