These are Britain's most in-form trainers - what are their chances this weekend?

These are the most in-form trainers in Britain – who are they running this weekend?

Paul Nicholls

Strike-rate last fortnight: 35 per cent

Runners entered on Friday and Saturday: 16 (11 Cheltenham, one Doncaster and four Hereford)

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has got off to a flyer this season, operating at a 33 per cent strike-rate and having already amassed 80 winners, 16 of which have come in the last two weeks including Graded wins for Mcfabulous and Henri The Second.

Every runner that Nicholls sends out warrants respect and the majority of his entries come at Cheltenham with Il Ridoto, a leading fancy for the December Gold Cup (1.50 Saturday) after finishing fourth over course and distance last month, the most obvious contender.

Nicholls tackles Doncaster's two-day meeting with just one runner, Le Chiffre D’Or, a dual hurdle winner who could make his first start in a year in the 2m4½f novice handicap chase (2.15 Friday). He won on his reappearance last season and is entered to make his debut over fences here.

One to watch: Nicholls could have a prime chance of landing his first December Gold Cup since 2016 with Il Ridoto, with the progressive five-year-old now 1lb lower than when finishing fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.

Il Ridoto (left): was a valiant fourth behind winner Ga Law in the Paddy Power Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fergal O’Brien

Strike-rate last fortnight: 35 per cent

Runners entered on Friday and Saturday: 14 (nine Cheltenham, two Doncaster, two Hereford, one Bangor)

After a career-best season in 2021-22, Fergal O’Brien has kept that momentum flowing and is just four winners away from bringing up a century after banging in 15 winners in the last fortnight.

Cheltenham is a local track for O’Brien may feel he is due a winner there having been unsuccessful from 21 runners at the course this season, and among his nine entries is Punctuation, who looks to have a strong chance in the 2m1f handicap hurdle on Friday (1.15).

Further afield, Armchair Farmer is set to feature in a 3m½f novice handicap hurdle (1.40) at Doncaster on the same day. He got off the mark over obstacles at the third time of asking when tried around this trip at Huntingdon and looks to be on a workable mark given he has recorded higher Racing Post Ratings than his 106 rating on all hurdling starts.

One to watch: Formerly owned by the Queen, Punctuation has been a rapid improver since joining O’Brien in January, winning all three of his starts. He reverts to a shorter trip here having brought up the hat-trick over two and a half miles at Uttoxeter last month. His wins at around two miles have been more impressive and given that he hung last time, there could still be one more in him despite the 6lb rise.

Ben Pauling

Strike-rate last fortnight: 27 per cent

Runners entered on Friday and Saturday: Nine (one at Bangor, Four at Cheltenham, four at Doncaster)

Ben Pauling built strong foundations for the jumps season proper after a stellar summer period and despite only being in December, he already sits on a career-best total of 48 winners.

His remarkable strike-rate of 25 per cent from 195 runners makes his runners particularly dangerous and he has nine horses with entries on Friday and Saturday. The consistent Nestor Park looks to have the strongest claims from his stable at Doncaster (2.05 Saturday) and his Cheltenham runners also have merit.

He has four horses entered at Prestbury Park over the two-day fixture including Dominateur, who regressed for Oliver Sherwood in early 2021 but could easily build on a modest stable debut for Pauling posted on the back of a 591-day absence of he takes his chance in the 3m2f handicap chase (2.25 Friday)

One to watch: Nestor Park ended last season with a string of good efforts at Newbury and reappeared with a staying-on third at Haydock over 3m4½fin November. His mark has been left unchanged and he will not be inconvenienced by a drop back in distance, making him a solid contender.

Gary Moore

Strike-rate last fortnight: 25 per cent

Runners entered on Friday and Saturday: Four (all at Cheltenham)

Gary Moore has a small but select team at Cheltenham’s International meeting but you can make a strong case for all four of his runners.

The West Sussex-based operator endured a slow start to the season but his string has picked up significant momentum in recent weeks, as evidenced by an 18 per cent overall strike-rate.

Nassalam made up promising late ground in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and will be down in grade on Friday (2.25), while Moore is sweet on the chances of Editeur Du Gite in Saturday’s 2m½f handicap chase (1.15).

Perseus Way will bid for revenge when he reopposes Scriptwriter in the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (12.05 Saturday), while Le Patron makes his British debut in the 2m1f handicap hurdle (1.15 Friday) and is a fascinating prospect.

One to watch:Editeur Du Gite was a dual winner at Cheltenham last season and his most recent victory was a four-length success in this particular contest. He is 6lb higher this time around, but he ran a very promising race on return in October and Moore has been waiting for the chance to unleash him since.

Dan Skelton

Strike-rate last fortnight: 20 per cent

Runners entered on Friday and Saturday: 19 (two at Bangor, eight at Cheltenham, nine at Doncaster)

His strike-rate may not be quite as high as the others but Dan Skelton has been in scintillating form on the big days with a run of big-race Saturday winners.

Protektorat, Le Milos and Ashtown Lad have all starred on recent Saturdays and it could be the time for Midnight River to follow suit – and he is one of the leading chances for the December Gold Cup (1.50 Saturday).

Top-class novice chaser Third Time Lucki has his sights lowered again and could contest the 2m½f handicap chase (1.15) on the same day, while popular performers Spiritofthegames and Marracudja hold entries at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Bangor.

One to watch:Midnight Riverremains deeply unexposed as a handicap chaser and put in another fine performance when third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the track last month. He races off the same mark of 145 for this and looks the leading contender against some rivals he finished in front of last time.

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