Following The Form

The Boughey yard is enjoying a fine spell in recent weeks, with the highlight being Believing, who won the Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes over at the Curragh. Over the past 14 days he is operating at a 23% strike rate. Beauty Nation won first time out at Kempton, and Lakers got off the mark second time out at Ffos Las. As well as being capable with newcomers, a lot of Boughey’s horses improve with time, highlighted by Giorgio M, who has improved in his second season of racing. He has plenty of ammunition at his disposal and his runners are always worth following.

Fergal O’Brien has started the season strongly with 4 winners from his last 13 runners. Patience was rewarded with Billams Legacy who finally got his head in front after seven consecutive seconds in a row. Yard favourite, Castle Gandolfo, capitalised on a declining handicap mark to win a valuable prize at Market Rasen on Saturday, indicating the team are bouncing back to form in style. One horse who is well ahead of his mark is Zhang Fei who had a straight-forward success at Newton Abbot on Sunday under Fern O’Brien. It might be worth adding him into your trackers.

Young apprentice Jack Doughty continues to make giant strides in his development and recorded another winner at Salisbury on Wednesday aboard Under Curfew. He has struck up a formidable partnership with trainer Tony Carroll, and despite only being 17, he races with a maturity well beyond his years. Young Fire was a horse tipped up to win soon in this column, and Doughty steered him to victory last week at Haydock. He heads to Chepstow on Friday with five rides and there can be optimism he will return to the winner’s enclosure.

Finally, Edward Greatrex has been developing a strong book of connections in recent weeks. He has ridden winners for Ralph Beckett, Jack Channon and Warren Greatrex, whist having rides for James Owen, David Loughnane and Eve Johnson-Houghton. The run of form started with Stop The Cavalry winning at Chester, before he recorded a double a week later at Newmarket, aboard Timefall and Jungle Mac. On Saturday he picks up a nice ride on City Burglar at York and he’ll be hoping this colt can put a poor run last time behind him.