Nine wins from 24 runners over the past three months is a strike rate of 37.5% — well above the average for any trainer running open-grade dogs. Add in places and the combined win-plus-place rate for M A Burton over that period sits at 41.7%, meaning nearly half of all runs end in a podium finish. That's a trainer operating with confidence.
Burton has three runners at Monmore tonight. Carrick Scholsey goes in the 18:48 open race over 630 metres from trap one — the longest trip of the evening for this stable. Outa The Clouds is entered in the 19:22 OR over 480 metres, again from trap one. Droopys Fearless takes on the 21:04 OR at 480 metres from trap three. Three open-race entries, all at the same venue on the same night. When a trainer in this kind of form sends a cluster of runners to one track, it's rarely accidental.
Monmore is a strong track that regularly attracts the best open-race dogs in the Midlands. That Burton is comfortable sending three dogs there tonight is its own kind of endorsement. Whether all three can fire is another matter, but the name Burton on the Monmore card this evening deserves proper attention.