Hot To Trot: Trainers to follow over Christmas

Jumps trainer:  Anthony Honeyball

Anthony Honeyball is having a cracking spell at the moment, saddling four winners from his last six runners (at the time of writing), and he has a host of entries throughout the Christmas period. As the graph below demonstrates, Honeyball has been on a steep upward curve since the end of November, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

Boxing Day is the busiest day in the racing calendar and Honeyball has multiple entries at Fontwell, Huntingdon, Kempton and Wincanton. There is a useful mares’ novice chase at Wincanton where Honeyball has three entries, including recent back-to-back winner Ms Parfois. This may come a little soon for her but Act Now, who came on for her reappearance when finishing runner-up over hurdles at Plumpton earlier this month, could make her chase debut. Tacenda could also take her chance. Honeyball is synonymous with bumper horses and he could unleash a well-bred newcomer in the last race at Wincanton called Lechlade Magician. He looks the part on paper, and could give Rebound, who finished runner-up on debut, a run for his money if they both line up. Le Coeur Net could run at Fontwell or Huntingdon but will be of interest wherever he turns up, having been back off the boards when unseating his rider four out at Fontwell last time. He was still travelling well at the time and remains with potential as a chaser.

Jumps trainer:  Warren Greatrex

Over the last five seasons Warren Greatrex has done particularly well at Wetherby, saddling more winners at only Stratford and Uttoxeter – as the table below shows – and he has entered three runners in with a chance at the Yorkshire tracks Boxing Day meeting.

Petticoat Tails was one of the best mares around in bumpers last season, but proved a major let down on hurdling debut when well held at Wincanton earlier this month, taking a keen hold and jumping left at times. The return to a left-handed track may well help her jumping, and she is obviously though capable of better. Aloomomo could take his chance in the feature Rowland Meyrick Chase on the same card having run twice over hurdles so far this season. He hasn’t shaped badly, but should appreciate the return to fences, and isn’t badly treated on the pick of his form. Bright Tomorrow is another who is potentially well handicapped and will be of interest if taking his chance in the sixth race. He took a step back in the right direction at Ludlow last time and, not long with this yard, it would be no surprise to see him come good sooner rather than later.

Under the radar:  James Ewart

James Ewart hasn’t had his best year as a trainer based on the number of winners, but as the table below states, his run to form (RTF) percentage and profit/loss figures are much better than he has achieved in the past. The yard are going great guns at present and some of his runners could well be underestimated in the market over the Christmas period.

Sky Full of Stars returned to form when finishing third at Sedgefield last month and he holds an entry in the first race back there on Boxing Day. He travelled better than most that day, deserves extra credit for faring best of those ridden close to the pace, and is down to a workable mark now. Ewart has other entries that have chances on the card but none more so than Strike The Pose (also entered at Huntingdon), who won a bumper at Kelso on his debut last month and looks up to defying a penalty. The third has come out and boosted the form since and, with the prospect of more to come Strike The Pose should go well. Charmant, who won at Sedgefield on his return earlier this month, has an entry at Wetherby on Boxing Day, is another to look out for despite an 8 lb rise.

Trainers to follow over Christmas:

There are some trainers that excel at this time of the year, and below is a table illustrating the trainers to follow. The data runs from 01/01/2006 to 01/01/2017, between the dates 25th December – 1st January inclusive.