Flat Trainers' Championship: A guide to the main contenders

Oisin Murphy may already have one hand on a third successive Jockeys’ Championship but the battle to be this year’s Champion Trainer has rarely been as open.

John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien have dominated for the past six years, but neither have been able to put their stamp on the domestic season and it is Andrew Balding and Charlie Appleby who lead the way with autumn fast approaching.

Balding has a cushion of almost £550,000 and it would be quite something if he could lift the title for the first time, 50 years after his father, Ian, took the spoils when the legendary Mill Reef was in his pomp.

Balding featured in the latest episode of Racing TV's This Racing Life and said: “The whole team would love it to happen [be champion], but I want to manage expectations.

“We have the lead at the moment, but that could change in one race on Champions Day. I don’t want to get too excited about it. The most important thing is we try and achieve the best results we can with current crop we’ve got. And if that is good enough, then that’s good enough. It would be lovely to achieve it, but I don’t want people getting disappointed if we don’t pull it off.”

There will be plenty of twists and turns over the weeks ahead, with 11 Group One races left in the British calendar, and about £4 million up for grabs on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot next month.

Unlike the Jockeys’ Championship, which is decided by winners, the trainer who accumulates the most prize-money will be number one. Here’s a guide to those in contention, with prices provided by Betfair.

*All figures correct before racing on Monday September 6

Winners: 118. Runners: 657. Total Earnings £3,612,767. Betfair odds: 2-1

Season summary: It’s already been a fabulous year for Balding, who has never previously finished higher than fourth in the table. Those who have backed his horses blind this year (to a £1 stake) will also be on good terms with themselves as they would be showing a profit of £37.50. That reflects, to an extent, that his horses have been achieving more than expected. Alcohol Free, winner of the Coronation Stakes and Sussex Stakes, has been his headline act, although he has had 13 other horses who have won £70,000 or more. Spanish Moon has established himself as being among the leading stayers, while Sandrine has shone in the juvenile division. Forty-nine winners in July and August have kept the team at Kingsclere rolling along nicely.

What’s left in the tank?: You can expect Balding to keep scooping cash at all levels, and he still has some decent darts to throw at the biggest races. Alcohol Free would be an obvious contender for the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (first prize of £127,598) at Newmarket on October 2, although she seems more likely to head straight to Champions Day for either the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (£623,810) or Sprint (£283,550). Her effectiveness in the mud should serve her well this autumn. Sandrine seems certain to be a big player in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (£141,775), while Majestic Glory is a likely contender in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (£255,195). Balding will also hope such as Spanish Moon, Foxes Tales, Tribal Craft, Masekela, Berkshire Shadow, Bangkok and Chil Chil can continue to chip in.

Verdict: The front-runner won’t go down without a fight but is vulnerable to those with more punches to throw.

Winners: 76. Runners: 262. Earnings: £3,064,692. Odds: 11-4

Season summary: It’s always been more about quality than quantity with Appleby, but he’s got himself in to a good position to win the title for the first time. His tremendous strike-rate of 29 per cent is well-ahead of his rivals, and more than half of his runners have been either first or second. Adayar, winner of the Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, has been his flagbearer, but Hurricane Lane, Yibir, Creative Force, Space Blues, Kemari and Master Of The Blues have also won about £1 million between them.

What’s left in the tank?: Hurricane Lane is odds-on to win the Cazoo St Leger on Saturday (£396,970) but we may have seen the last of Adayar on these shores this year as his principal objective is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He has some smart two-year-olds up his sleeve in Native Trail and New Science, while Creative Force and Master Of The Seas are potential big players for him on Champions Day.

Verdict: Hurricane Lane is well-fancied to take him close to the top later this week but, with Adayar heading abroad, others could have stronger hands.

Winners: 94. Runners: 435. Earnings: £3,019,318. Odds: 6-4

Season summary: The Gosdens have had an incredible year across the world, with Mishriff scooping about £10 million on his travels. Mishriff has also been pivotal in keeping the team at Clarehaven in contention for a fourth successive title, with his exploits in the Juddmonte International, King George and Eclipse reaping £820,000. Palace Pier, winner of the Lockinge and Queen Anne, has more than done his bit, while the evergreen Stradivarius dug deep to beat Balding’s Spanish Moon in an epic Lonsdale Stakes. That finish represented a £100,000 swing in the title battle. The three-year-olds have been a little underwhelming but there is talent in the juvenile department to call upon, with such as Inspiral and Reach For The Moon being near the top of the class.

What’s left in the tank?: Look out for a Gosden assault on Doncaster this week with Inspiral, Free Wind, Reach For The Moon and Stradivarius leading players in races worth an aggregate of about £250,000. Inspiral is also 3-1 ante-post favourite for the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (£255,195), while Reach For The Moon is only 6-1 for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (£255,195). Gosden had a miserable Champions Day last year but Palace Pier is a general 7-4 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (£623,810), while Mishriff is trading at 5-2 for the QIPCO Champion Stakes (£680,520). Stradivarius, Lord North, Loving Dream and Free Wind are other possibles for Ascot.

Verdict: Playing catch-up, but it would be no surprise if the pair made good headway this week and they have some big players for the key races.

Winners: 9. Runners: 95. Earnings: £2,764,730. Odds: 11-2

Season summary: Having had only nine wins in Britain this year, it’s quite something that O’Brien is still in the hunt for a seventh title. For instance, Roy Bowring has had a dozen and he is languishing in 188th place! O’Brien had 28 winners when landing the title in 2016, and 32 when retaining his crown the following year. His nine per cent strike-rate this year is the lowest he’s had, but Love (£598,720), Snowfall (£493,377), St Mark’s Basilica (£340,260) and Mother Earth (£304,927) have made an impact in some of the year’s biggest races. Overall, O’Brien has chalked up 15 Group One wins around the world this year, one more than he had at this time in 2017 when he went on to achieve a record 28 victories at the highest level

What’s left in the tank?: O’Brien lacks his usual strength in the two-year-old department, although Point Lonsdale has carried all before him and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (£255,195) is likely to be on his agenda after his run in Ireland this weekend. He is likely to have several St Leger (£396,970) runners and, even though Hurricane Lane will be hard to beat, there is plenty of valuable place money on offer. His HMS Endeavour is also a leading fancy in the Weatherbys Scientific 2-Y-O Stakes (£98,360) at the meeting. St Mark’s Basilica is likely to be a massive player in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (£680,520) and Snowfall would have an open goal in the Fillies & Mares Stakes (£283,550) if heading for that after the Arc. Joan Of Arc, Mother Earth, Love, Sir Lucan, Wordsworth and Order Of Australia are others who could tilt the scales in his favour.

Verdict: St Mark’s Basilica is the ace in his pack, but his two-year-olds will need to step up if he is to bridge the gap.

Winners: 171. Runners: 1138. Earnings: £2,693,402. Odds: 33-1

Season summary: Britain’s winning-most trainer would have been champion umpteen years in a row if the title were decided by winners, but it isn’t. He’s had between 54 and 162 more than others in the top ten, and is on course to achieve more than 200 for a tenth time. Subjectivist, brilliant winner of the Gold Cup (£213,000), and Sir Ron Priestley (£200,000) have excelled but, sadly both have suffered injuries that have left their respective careers in jeopardy.

What’s left in the tank?: There’s little doubt that Johnston will continue to accumulate plenty more winners but his two big-hitters, Subjectivist and Sir Ron Priestley, are on the sidelines and he simply does not have the big names that can keep him in the mix.

Verdict: He’s finished in the top five on numerous occasions – including the past five seasons – but that’s the best he can hope for.

Winners: 117. Runners: 954. Earnings: £2,512,988. Odds: 20-1

Season summary: Since winning the championship in 2014, when he accrued £4,749,470 in prize money, Hannon has finished 4-6-7-4-7 in the table. He’s had a solid, satisfactory year with Snow Lantern, the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes heroine, and Mojo Star, runner-up in the Cazoo Derby, providing highlights. And Lusail has developed into one of the summer’s top two-year-olds.

What’s left in the tank?: His biggest earners this year – Snow lantern, Mojo Star and Lusail – could all have more big pay days in them but it would be asking a lot for them all to deliver, and Hannon already trails by about £1 million.

Verdict: Booked for a supporting role.

Winners: 117. Runners: 954. Earnings: £2,289,872. Odds: 14-1

Season summary: His 25 per cent strike-rate is impressive, with only Appleby boasting better among the top trainers. Baaeed has set the pulse racing, but he has only contributed £96.000 to the Haggas kitty in Britain – Alenquer (£339,000), Al Aasy (£178,000), Mohaafeth (£143,000) and Addeybb (£129,000) all earning more. Hamish returned from a lengthy absence when scoring in good style at Kempton last weekend, while he has helped Her Majesty The Queen enjoy a golden year via Chalk Stream and Light Refrain.

What’s left in the tank?: Haggas is sitting well off the pace but don’t rule him out flying at the finish. Baaeed is no bigger than 2-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (£623,810) and Addeybb is likely to make a bold attempt to retain his QIPCO Champion Stakes crown (£680,520) if getting his favoured testing ground, while the mercurial Al Aasy, gelded since he last ran, could be intriguing in the same race. Hamish has put himself in the picture for the Long Distance Cup (£283,550) and Nahaarr is no forlorn hope for the Sprint (£283,550).

Verdict: Looks too far off the pace but no surprise if he rises up the table.

Balding has a handy advantage and plenty of neutrals will be willing him home, but several of his pursuers look to have greater overall ammunition for the key races ahead.

The Gosdens seems likely to have a profitable time at Doncaster this week and, if they do, that will set them up for a big push. There will be some lovely two-year-olds on duty for the team at Clarehaven over the weeks ahead and big-hitters Palace Pier, Stradivarius and Mishriff might all turn up on Champions Day. It’s a bit dull to tip the favourite, especially one trailing in-running, but they will take some stopping.

O’Brien’s reliance on St Mark’s Basilica and his apparent overall lack of power in his two-year-old team is enough to deter me from backing him, while even a St Leger win for Hurricane Lane seems unlikely to be enough for Appleby to go all the way. It’s fanciful to think that Haggas can win the title but that's not to say his runners could have a big say in who does prevail.