Can this up-and-coming trainer continue to make the game look easy?

Saturday: 1.50 NewmarketMy Odds Boost On Betfair Handicap (Heritage Handicap) | 6f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

James Horton is a new name in the training ranks. He spent seven years as assistant to Sir Michael Stoute, but was head-hunted by John and Jess Dance to privately train for them.

That must have come with a fair bit of pressure, but that was soon lifted when Horton made a strong start to his career with Phantom Flight winning at Redcar 12 days ago and he went on to complete a treble. It hasn’t taken long for Horton to make it look easy.

The final leg of his Redcar treble was provided by lightly raced four-year-old Asjad, who bids to complete back-to-back victories under a 5lb penalty for his recent reappearance win.

He competes off a mark of 100 and will need to be bordering Group class to follow up in a race that has been won by Group 1 winners in the past, but there should be more to come.

Jumby has already competed in Group company. He finished third in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes off level weights and clearly goes well at the Newmarket courses.

Richard Fahey won this event in 2015 and 2017 with Group winners Eastern Impact and Mr Lupton, so maybe he sees this year’s representative, Strike Red, as one with similar potential.

He is often slowly away and can get behind, so needs a solid pace, and he didn’t get either that or a clear run when sixth behind Gale Force Maya over course and distance last time.

Lots of these runners prefer to be held up, though, and most of the pace is low. So it will be interesting to see whether he gets the test that he needs from the second highest draw in 20.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

James Clutterbuck, joint-trainer of Apollo One
He's been training well and this looks a good place to start him off for the turf season. Things didn't really fall his way on the all-weather this winter and we're looking forward to running him.

James Horton, trainer of Asjad
He seems to have come out of his last race at Redcar very well. He surprised me a bit that day as I didn't think he was overly ready for it. He's gone up 5lb, but he's right at the weights and it's a good opportunity to give him a crack at something more valuable.

John Quinn, trainer of Mr Wagyu
I’m very happy with him. He’s swimming in deeper water now, but he showed in the Ayr Gold Cup that he’s capable of running very well off this mark.

Roger Teal, trainer of Bickerstaffe
He's settled in really well. He's a very straightforward horse and has been working nicely. Ideally, a splash of rain would've helped his chances, but he does have form on top of the ground. We like him a lot and while it's a competitive race, he's got a shout.

Daniel Muscutt, rider of First Folio
I'm looking forward to it. The ground should be ideal as it's nice and quick and he likes it like that. He's in good form so hopefully he can get the season off to a good start.

Jack Channon, assistant to Mick Channon, trainer of Chairmanoftheboard
He's come out of his first run at Doncaster in good form. I just hope it's not too sharp for him on that ground even though he has run well over the course and distance.

William Haggas, trainer of Tarhib
She would maybe prefer slower ground but she is a filly with potential, although she should come on for the race.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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