Kim Bailey is enjoying a fertile autumn, with nine winners in the last 10 days alone. The Andoversford maestro isn't troubling the Championship leaders as yet, but this pace of success will soon catapult him up the rankings.
A double at Ludlow on October 9th was followed by a treble at Worcester on 16th, ridden by Tom Bellamy, bringing the seasonal tally to 12. Novice hurdle winners at Worcester are rarely headline makers, but the quick-fire treble indicates good well-being in a yard that thrives under yielding conditions underfoot.
The Bailey yard has consistently won around £500,000 for its owners in the past few years, ranking Bailey in the top of the second division. The yard is not patronised by big money spenders, so well-bred bloodstock destined for top honours are few and far between. That said, Bailey was one of just a handful of British trainers to taste success at this year's Festival with Chianti Classico in the Ultima, underlining his ability to outpoint more fashionable rivals with deeper-pocketed owners if the goods are right.
Despite soft conditions due to the damp autumn, several of the top yards are yet to gear up fully. Runners from Seven Barrows, or from Joe Tizzard and Paul Nicholls, have yet to reach full pitch, sure to begin once Cheltenham launches its season on October 25th.
Between the flags, Knightwick launches the West Mercian season on November 9th.