Stars Of The Week: Tom Collins selects his standout performances

Did you miss the action over the last seven days and want to know the star horse, jockey and trainer? Our specialist writer awards this week's accolades.

Star horse

Resilience

Perhaps there are more obvious contenders in this category than Resilience - Cap Du Nord, Win My Wings or Pic D’Orhy might have come to your mind first after notable big-race victories on Saturday. 

However, it is quite an achievement to win two races in the space of three days and this Tony Carroll-trained sprinter deserves due recognition, especially given he landed a huge gamble (11-1 into 3-1) on Monday evening.

Successful just once from eight starts for former trainer Sylvester Kirk, Resilience has found a new lease of life since switching yards and being dropped to the minimum five-furlong trip. This speedy son of Aclaim justified strong support at Wolverhampton with a last-gasp lunge to deny favourite Hot Diggity Dog and showed great tenacity to defy a 6lb penalty by beating the in-form Income just 47 hours later at Kempton.

The handicapper is sure to have his say - a mark around 86 should be fair - and Resilience doesn’t hold any future entries at the time of writing, but it would be folly to believe that his winning streak will come to an end on his next start.

Star jockey

Tom Cannon

Tom Cannon is widely-regarded as one of the most underrated jumps jockeys in the weighing room despite recording ten Graded victories in the last two seasons, headlined by a first top-level success in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase aboard Edwardstone.

The latest noteworthy prize added to his ever-growing resume was the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, in which he produced an inspired ride aboard the front-running Aucunrisque for trainer Chris Gordon last Saturday.

That Grade 2 strike was the first of three victories for Cannon on the day. Confidence was clearly high as he brought Storm Dennis through from almost last to first under a power-packed ride to pinch the penultimate 2m5f handicap hurdle, before he plundered the closing bumper aboard the well-backed Onewayortother.

Cannon’s three-timer suitably compares to a footballer’s perfect hat-trick. Not only did he showcase his power in the saddle on the two occasions, but he won after deploying contrasting tactics. His final success was laced with finesse and poise, and a first Cheltenham festival Graded winner beckons.

Star trainer

Christian Williams

All it took was 28 minutes. Christian Williams, who is becoming well-known for readying his horses for rich Saturday handicaps, recorded an across-the-card double as Win My Wings cantered home in the Eider Chase at Newcastle just moments before Cap Du Nord’s Grade 3 Kempton success.

It was another red-letter day for a Welsh trainer who has a dab hand with staying chasers, as proven by the exploits of 2019 Midlands and Welsh Grand National winner Potters Corner. Followers of Williams-trained runners have been well-rewarded so far in 2022 with a +£15.71 profit to £1 level-stakes. 

Further success might be in the pipeline with Kitty’s Light set to run in the Midlands Grand National later this month, while the aforementioned Potters Corner is currently available at 500 for the Aintree showpiece in April.