Trainer Form / Timeform / 02 December 2008 / Leave a comment

The hots and the nots in the training world at the moment, by Timeform.

Nicky Henderson has his string in fantastic form at the minute, emphasised by a four-timer at combined odds of 40/1 on Hennessy day at Newbury on Saturday. With stable jockey Barry Geraghty electing to go to Newcastle to ride Punjabi in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Tony McCoy was the man doing the steering on the Seven Barrows runners. The 13-time champion jockey has a 32% strike rate for the trainer in the past five seasons and has so far partnered 10 winners for the yard this term. Henderson has logged 39 winners already this season and his runners have returned a level stakes profit of £21.81. It should pay to watch Henderson's entries at the upcoming Tingle Creek meeting.

It seems a long time since Jim Old has been amongst the winners, but the trainer's string finally looks to be on its way back, with two winners from his last four runners, including Thedreamstillalive who scored at Folkestone on Monday. Since the start of November Old's string seemed to have signalled a change in fortune was around the corner, with nine horses reaching the frame from 19 runners. However, such a slow start to the season means he has little chance of bettering his seasonal total of 37 winners recorded in the 1997/8 season.

Weathercock House handler Carl Llewellyn hasn't had a winner since Roll Along obliged at Ascot on the 1st November, having saddled a further 36 winners without success. There's probably no need to panic yet, with no fewer than 12 of those runners being placed including several at double figure prices. Indeed, Lleywellyn has saddled just one favourite since Roll Along's success, with The Old Pretender, a 13/8 chance, finishing second of five to Martys Mission in a novice hurdle at Folkestone on Monday.