Just three days after Dan Skelton had been crowned champion trainer at Sandown, news emerged that owners Johnny and Samantha de la Hey had moved 11 horses from Paul Nicholls' yard at Ditcheat; seven - including Pic D'Orhy - have gone to Skelton, while Welcome To Cartries and Joyau Allen are destined for Jamie Snowden and Captain Bellamy and Ivaldi for Chris Gordon.
Two weeks later, after riding a double at Newton Abbot aboard Viroflay and Golden Sun, Paul's daughter Olive announced her retirement from the saddle to become assistant trainer to her father. Meanwhile Megan helped the team secure a half-brother to Luccia at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale for £140,000; after the event, she said:
"In previous years Dad might've bought more stores but the game plan this time around is to potentially keep it to five or six across the sales, so we have the option of then buying the French recruits, juveniles off the Flat or the point-to-pointers."
Dan Skelton, who has Martin Pipe's record of 243 winners in a season in his sights this season, has made a strong start with 58 winners from 155 runners so far, a strike rate of 37%.
Having spent a pretty penny at the sales, including 500,000 euros on Isaac Of York at Arqana's Grand Steeple auction, the handler said:
"There's a few we've bought over the last couple of days with Martin Pipe's record in mind. We've bought a few that'll run in the summer and early autumn and others that are going to be winter horses."
Team Tizzard joined in the fun as well, paying 370,000 euros for a half-brother to Brighterdaysahead and Caldwell Potter at the first day of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.
Money talks, as they say.
Market Rasen's Summer Plate card marks the mid-point of the summer jumps programme; I usually like to take an interest in the Plate (2.45) - just to keep my hand in, you understand - but this year the Summer Handicap Hurdle (2.10) has piqued more interest.
Thirteen declared, with the Dan Skelton trained Louis Veron the clear market leader.
Carrying a penalty, Bryan Drew's gelding won a Stratford novice 16 lengths last time; allocated a mark of 124 for this handicap debut, he could well be 'thrown in' and is some way clear of rivals on Racing Post ratings, but is priced accordingly and races right-handed for the first time. The favourite has obliged just once in the past ten renewals.
Of the J.P. McManus owned pair, Harry Cobden rides Mojito Des Mottes.
This one caught the eye when only beaten a neck by King Al in a juvenile handicap at Ascot in March, having met trouble in running three out. The last four-year-old to come home in front was the Skelton trained Red Tornado in 2016.
Newtown Rambler and Oakley Brown have clocked up three wins over fences this summer; rated 132 over fences, he goes off a hurdle mark of 124 with the jockey claiming a further five pounds. Last time out Adrian Keatley's charge beat Kingston Narcissus, favourite for the Summer Plate, half a length over a two mile trip at Uttoxeter.
Rated 70 on the Flat, course and distance winner Squeezebox beat Captain Cool with something to spare in a Southwell handicap last time and has been raised eight pounds to a mark of 119.
Mare Letterston Lily is on a career high mark and, to date, has shown her best form around two and a half miles.
Sporting a first-time tongue-tie 33/1 shot Moon Chime collared top weight Laafi in the Swinton at Haydock in May (Indemnity tenth) and has since backed that effort up with a win on the all-weather at Kempton.
I fancied Indemnity's chance in the Swinton on the back of his third behind Tuttti Quanti in the Gerry Feilden last November and his five and a half length win in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton in April but Emma Lavelle's charge made a mistake three out and weakened out of contention before the final flight at Haydock. His mark, nine pounds higher than when winning at Plumpton, looks high enough.
High Fibre has moved to James Owen's yard for a change of diet.
Rated 79 on the Flat, he looks well treated on 112 and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye. Third in a 12 furlong handicap at York eight days ago, he sports a first-time visor here. One to monitor in the market.
Formerly with Willie Mullins, Charlus, stablemate of the favourite, hasn't shown any worthwhile form for current connections and would probably prefer more cut underfoot.
Arctic Voyage pipped Howth a nose for second, the pair 26 lengths behind runaway winner Morning Mayhem in a Newton Abbot handicap at the beginning of June; a month later Arctic Voyage returned to beat Continuance and Charlus over the same course and distance.
It's difficult to know quite what to make of Morning Mayhem's race. Favourite American Land never went a yard while Centara was 20 lengths clear of his field with a circuit to go but quickly folded and hasn't been seen out since.
Nine days after that Newton Abbot win, Morning Mayhem returned to the track and was sent off favourite for a two mile two and a half furlong hurdle; in the event Nick Scholfield's charge didn't appear to find an awful lot off the bridle and finished fourth of the four runners, beaten three lengths.
Pigeon House has a few miles on the clock for a six-year-old and likes to race from the front.
At the time of writing the two horses representing the Swinton form can be backed at double figure prices, as can Newton Rambler; High Fibre looks to have come in for significant support and is now as low as 6/1 in a couple of places.
There has been a nibble or two for Morning Mayhem who needs to step up on his latest effort; connections have opted to fit cheekpieces for the first time. On balance I prefer Newtown Rambler.
Newtown Rambler is the each-way suggestion, 11/1 generally but 14/1 with William Hill; the majority of layers pay four places.
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