IT’S a mixture of flat, National Hunt racing and a data-driven eyecatcher in this week’s column as we reach that transitional time of year in the sport.

Classic trials sit alongside an exciting race for the jump trainers’ title in the UK, which came to life with the success of Captain Cody in the Scottish Grand National for Willie Mullins. It’s on the west coast of Scotland where we begin this week’s analysis.

Harry Cobden was rightly acclaimed for a cool and confident ride on Captain Cody who was delivered to perfection after the last. The sectional data backs up the impression that the winner was able to quicken to win.

His top speed in the race of 33.01mph was achieved in the final furlong and was the fastest recorded speed in the race.

It is rare to see a horse get progressively faster at the end of a staying chase, but that is what Captain Cody was able to do as evidenced by his closing sectionals.

Captain Cody: Final Four Furlong Sectionals

3m 5f: 14.98s

3m 6f: 14.74s

3m 7f: 14.71s

4m: 14.47s

These splits contributed to him finishing the race with a Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of 106.89% meaning that he produced a fast finish to run down Klarc Kent who was not stopping, given that he recorded an FSP of 105.92%.

These strong finishes were courtesy of a steady early gallop, and the race became more of a test of speed than stamina in the home straight.

The RaceIQ jumping data reveals that this was a race where many horses were let down by their jumping.

The average Jump Index for the eight finishers was a below average 6.5. This can be put in context by comparing it with the Randox Grand National where the first eight home averaged a jump index of 8.125.

Captain Cody and Klarc Kent gained plenty of ground on the others with their jumping. Captain Cody gained 12.36 lengths and Klarc Kent who was the best jumper in the race gained 16.10 lengths.

These numbers are not a reflection of the two superb rounds of jumping, but more and indication of how poorly those who finished behind them jumped.

Captain Cody is entered in the Irish Garand National at Fairyhouse and the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, but a run in either would represent a very quick turnaround.

AT Newbury last Saturday there were two Group 3 Guineas trials and while they may not have revealed a future classic winner, they look like races that will work out well this season and as such are worthy of analysis.

Jonquil won the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes. Andrew Balding has his horse in fine form with eight winners over the last week and Jonquil will head to the 2000 Guineas after this success.

The winning time of 1m24.42s was 0.56s below the RaceIQ par and garnered a time index score of 6.4 out of 10 (Meeting average 6.0).

This score would have been higher had the first four furlongs not been slowly run.

The relatively steady gallop led to a sprint finish with Jonquil producing an above par finish for a seven-furlong race at Newbury under these conditions.

He recorded an FSP of 103.88% with the par number being 99.58%. This figure was achieved by him quickening through F5: 11.20s and F6: 11.21s and this was enough to see off the strong-travelling Rashabar who clocked 11.33s and 11.24s through the same furlongs.

Jonquil had too much speed for his rivals here and he comes from a speedy family which raises some doubt about his ability to be as effective in Group 1 company over a mile, nonetheless a tilt at the 2000 Guineas is on the agenda.

DUTY First had produced her best form on soft ground last season, but seemed to improve for the quicker conditions she encountered in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

She produced the best time of the meeting with a RaceIQ time index of 7.3 (meeting average 6).

She completed the seven furlongs 0.47s faster than Jonquil and that was because she was in a race that was more evenly run than the Greenham.

Whereas Jonquil ran three of the seven furlongs in the Greenham slower than the par expectation, Duty First hit par for every single furlong and when horses are rated as evenly as she was a good final time always follows. Her FSP reflects this as she recorded 99.28% with a final two furlongs of 24.16s.

This was a well-judged ride by Hollie Doyle allowing Duty First to see out the trip well with a final furlong of 12.47s compared to 12.68s for Hey Boo in second place and 13.11s for Time For Sandals in third.

This performance suggests that she would be worthy of a place in the 1000 Guineas, even if she is bred to be a soft ground sprinter. It should be noted that this was something of a perfect set-up for her with in that she was not forced out of her comfort zone at any point. The 1000 Guineas will be a sterner examination of her stamina.

ONE Look gained her first success at pattern level in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes at the Curragh last Sunday after a seven month lay-off for the Paddy Twomey team.

She produced the fastest time at the meeting with a Race IQ time index of 7.4. The first six furlongs of this contest were strongly run, each furlong completed by the winner in a split faster than the RaceIQ Par.

One Look raced handily, and the fast early pace meant that she was tired in the final furlong producing a very slow final furlong of 13.07s. This is reflected in her sub-par FSP of 97.83%.

Nonetheless, she battled on gamely to win by a length and three quarters. She will be seen to better effect in a more evenly-run race which would also give her a chance of staying further.

Ecstatic in second place caught the eye and the data is positive about her. She raced off the pace and finished strongly with a final two furlongs of 24.66s compared to the winner who recorded 24.99s.

This was largely due to her being faster in the final furlong than the winner with a split of 12.77s compared to 13.07s for the winner.

She is crying out for a step up in trip and Aidan O Brien may opt for an Oaks trial for her.

She has plenty of stamina in her pedigree with her dam being Magic Wand who won the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, and this performance suggests she may take a big step forward when racing over further. She has entries in the English and Irish Oaks.