Hot To Trot: Vintage year ahead for ambitious Palmer

Jumps trainer: Colin Tizzard

Colin Tizzard enjoyed the best season of his training career to date in 2016/17, banking over £2 million in prize money for the first time in a single campaign and recording notable victories at the highest level with the likes of Cue Card, Fox Norton and Thistlecrack. The new season may only be a few days old, but Tizzard has already expressed his desire to mount a serious challenge for the jump trainers' championship and will be hoping to gather some momentum with plenty of runners through the summer months. Indeed, the trainer looks set to be well represented over the coming days, with Molineaux and Tempestatefloresco among those holding multiple entries. The former was disappointing when a well-beaten third on his most recent outing at Taunton, but he had shown himself to be a fairly useful performer when second on his hurdling debut at Wincanton and looks the sort to bounce back quickly. The six-year-old holds entries at Newton Abbot (Wednesday), Exeter and Ffos Las (both Tuesday) next week. Meanwhile, Tempestatefloresco ran creditably when second over an insufficient trip at Chepstow last time and should again be competitive if stepping back up in distance at Newton Abbot on Wednesday (also entered at Exeter on Tuesday). 

Flat trainer: Hugo Palmer

12 months may have passed since Hugo Palmer enjoyed classic success with Galileo Gold in the 2000 Guineas, but the ambitious trainer is not one for living in the past and he has made yet another flying start to the latest campaign. Home of the Brave looked better than ever when making a winning seasonal debut in a listed race at Leicester and could now join stablemate Galileo Gold in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury later this month, while Unforgetable Filly found only Daban too good in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. She should strip fitter in tomorrow's 1000 Guineas back at HQ and looks a lively outsider as she attempts to emulate Sky Lantern, who won the Guineas after finishing second in the Nell Gwyn in 2013. Palmer will also be well represented in the pattern races at Chester next week, with Baydar one to watch in the Huxley Stakes on Thursday. He completed a four-timer in handicaps last season and doesn't have too much to find on form to be competitive in a race of this nature. Finally, Vintage Folly looked a fairly useful prospect when making a successful racecourse debut at Newcastle in November and could attempt to follow up in the Cheshire Oaks on Wednesday, although much more is needed stepping up significantly in grade.

Under the radar: James Given

Dandino provided James Given with the biggest victory of his career to date when winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket six years ago, finding plenty to lead close home and showing himself to be a smart performer in doing so. Given has lacked a horse of that calibre since Dandino left to join James Fanshawe for the 2012 season, but has continued to send out plenty of winners from his Lincolnshire base and will be hoping to sustain his fine form of late. Indeed, the trainer has sent out three winners from his last 11 runners and will be keen to get Oriental Relation out again quickly, having saddled the six-year-old to back-to-back successes at Pontefract in the last two weeks. He was a determined winner of his most recent outing there last Wednesday and could bid to complete his hat-trick under a penalty at Catterick on Thursday. Meanwhile, Sands Chorus bounced back to his best with a good second at Pontefract last month, travelling strongly in the leaders' slipstream throughout and simply finding the improving winner too good on the day. He remains on a good mark and will be of interest if trying to go one better at Leicester on Tuesday.