Watch out for horses stepping up in distance on their handicap or seasonal debut

Ann Duffield, formerly Ann Swinbank, has been training for many years but only with modest success. Over the past five flat seasons until 2005 she had never reached double figures, either for winners or strike rate. Then in 2005 she trained 18 winners at 12% and in 2006 she has already scored 14 times at 18%.

What’s changed? Well, the most significant thing is surely that hubby has been at home and lending a hand. George Duffield’s long and dignified association with the superb Sir Mark Prescott was finally bought to an end by injury in 2005. Interestingly one or two of Sir Mark’s owners have now got a horse with Ann Duffield.

Clearly she doesn’t have the blue bred middle distance and staying prospects that Sir Mark teases us with over sprint distances as two year olds before plundering half a dozen handicaps at a more suitable distance as older horses. However the modus operandi is similar when the ammunition is there. Watch out for horses stepping up in distance on their handicap or seasonal debut.

Fitness is usually guaranteed. Older horses have shown a good return with an excellent profit to level stake in 2005 and even more in 2006 to date. Not too much inference can be drawn from jockey bookings though Paul Fessey is currently riding most of the winners.

Also look out for her small band of hurdlers, usually flat stayers appearing at the end of the flat season. They have a similarly good strike rate nowadays.

The best thing about Ann Duffield is that she is still considered an unfashionable Northern ‘journeywoman’ trainer by punters – which means generous odds. I suggest this is a trainer to follow for a few years. A level stake should continue to show a profit, by ignoring the educational two year old runs and the couple of old dogs (every yard has them) this could be made into a very healthy return.