AUSTRALIA may be uppermost on the mind of Dumfries-shire trainer, Iain Jardine – where his Nakeeta is reported to have settled well prior to a tilt at next month’s prestigious Melbourne Cup – but he has remained focused on his Carrutherstown yard which continues to regularly fire out winners.

The Hetland Hill stable’s recent victory trail bodes well for its stable star, when he carries the hopes of a Scottish success on November 7. It would earn them a place in the record books should they land Australia’s biggest race, worth £3.7m.

Having finished a creditable runner-up in last season’s Chester Cup, his Ebor victory saw Nakeeta lift Europe’s most valuable handicap and Iain believed that form holds him in good stead for his tilt Down Under.

The 2016 Ebor victor Heartbreak City was runner-up by a head in last year’s Melbourne Cup. “We have the same weight and we won the Ebor in a slightly faster time,” he explained.

“It’s the best handicap in Europe for staying horses and I think he has a serious chance. The race will be run to suit him and he goes on quick ground,” he added, conceding that it was a great thrill and achievement for the whole yard to have a runner in the race.

The in-form trainer completed an across-the-card double on October 20. He saddled Newmarket Warrior to a 7-1 success on the all-weather at Newcastle, and also saw Restive head the 1m 2f lady amateur riders’ race at Redcar.

There was also a double for Irvine jockey Danny Tudhope, who rode Nicklaus to win the six-furlong novice stakes at Redcar and Ingleby Hollow to land the 1m 6f handicap.

Hawick jockey Jason Hart also had a winner at the meeting, riding Give It Some Teddy to land the six-furlong maiden stakes.

At Dundalk, Ayrshire jockey, David Allan, partnered Take Cover to win the five-furlong Listed race.

Iain Jardine has,as said earlier, got his yard in tremendous form and he added another winner to his tally the following afternoon at Catterick on October 21, when Jabbaar scored a 7-1 victory in the 1m 4f handicap.

Carluke trainer, Keith Dalgleish, is also in fine form and saddled Lady Anjorica to win the seven-furlong novice stakes.

Langholm jockey Jamie Gormley rode Boots and Spurs to a 12-1 win in the seven-furlong handicap, while Jason Hart scored his second consecutive success, riding Biddy Brady to win the six-furlong novice stakes.

Danny Tudhope is also on a bit of a roll and the Ayrshire jockey added another success, riding Lord Glitters to head the one-mile handicap at Ascot.

Keith Dalgleish made a quick return to the winner’s enclosure when Mister Showman, in first-time cheekpieces, made a victorious debut for his Belstane Stables at Southwell on October 22.

A hurdle winner for former trainer Dan Skelton, the 8-1 chance was also making a winning start on the all-weather – opening his Flat account at the seventh attempt.

Ayrshire jockey David Allan rode Silvery Moon to win the 1m 2f handicap at Pontefract on October 23.

Two Hawick jockeys rode winners on October 19 - one over the jumps and the other on the Flat.

Craig Nichol partnered Slanelough to victory in the two-mile novice hurdle race at Carlisle. The 3-1 winner is trained at Alnwick by Rose Dobbin.

“He’s a nice horse, who will get further and make a good chaser,” said Rose.

Meanwhile, on the all-weather at Newcastle, Jason Hart won the six-furlong novice stakes on 4-1 chance Mountain Breath.

Danny Tudhope then continued his winning run of form on the all-weather at Kempton on October 17, riding Guns Drawn to a 6-1 victory in the fillies’ novice stakes.