A successful sideline: five jumps trainers who it pays to follow on the Flat

With the Flat turf season fast approaching, some trainers more associated with jump racing will be turning their attention – or at least part of it – towards it. Here are five who could be worth following based on their record with their Flat runners

Charlie Mann
Wins: 8-22, strike-rate 36%, profit to £1 level stake +£43.66 (last 5 seasons in Britain)

Charlie Mann's last three runners have all won over jumps and it's not often you see his name beside a Flat runner, although of the four he sent out in Britain last year, three returned to the winner's enclosure, with Leoro, Oregon Gift and Bear Valley winning six all-weather contests between them.

Mann, who is best known for saddling Grade 1 jumps stars Air Force One and Celibate, has operated at a 36 per cent strike-rate on the Flat in Britain over the past years.

6-16, 38%, +£17.50

Cumbria trainer Tristan Davidson sent out his first Flat runner last June and first winner the following month when Island Song prevailed in an Ayr handicap. His stable star proceeded to win four of his next five starts.

Island Song and Rubenesque provided Davidson – whose other job involves delivering milk – with a double at Carlisle last August, with Rubenesque powering clear by nine lengths.

Davidson is also a dab hand at training jumpers, with Justatenner having won three of his first four hurdle starts for the trainer this season.

13-70, 19%, +£21.75

Neil King is perhaps best known for his association with star hurdler Lil Rockerfeller and Grand National fifth Milansbar, although his Flat runners often hit the target as well.

Of his two winners last season, Lil Rockefeller justified 11-4 favouritism when showing up at Glorious Goodwood, while winning hurdler Cubswin landed a handicap at Lingfield on her first Flat start in almost a year.

Since 2003, King's runners have won 46 races in 328 starts, for an impressive £1 level-stake profit of £128.85.

Lil Rockerfeller and Silvestre de Sousa leave the field standing at GoodwoodCredit: Alan Crowhurst

13-61, 21%, -£1.84

Despite not showing a profit over the past five seasons on the Flat, Warren Greatrex earns a place in the list after winning ten Flat races at a 43 per cent strike-rate last season.

His four winners included the five-time scorer and stable star Bailarico, a regally bred son of Dubawi and Group 1 winner Baila Me who won five Flat races on the trot in between wins in a Barbury point-to-point and a Leicester novice hurdle.

Great Return also racked up three consecutive victories on the all-weather for the same owner, Fitorfat Racing, as Bailarico.

Bodes Well and Final Choice also gave the Lambourn yard a boost when winning their respective races.

Nicky Henderson
6-40, 15%, +£3.67

With two winners of the Cesarewitch in Landing Light (2003) and Caracciola (2008) and a Royal Ascot winner in the 2013 Wolferton Handicap scorer Forgotten Voice, Nicky Henderson's ability to train winners on the Flat is no secret.

His Flat runners have won 57 races in 362 starts since 1988 – which would have returned a very healthy £148.67 to a £1 level stake.

One Seven Barrows resident who could elevate the trainer on to a new pedestal this year is Verdana Blue, the Christmas Hurdle heroine who has been mooted as a potential Melbourne Cup contender.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app