Sir Mark Prescott is responsible for no less than nine of the 102 initial entries for the Cesarewitch.
A heritage handicap which will be run over two and a quarter miles at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on the second day of the inaugural Dubai Future Champions Festival, Saturday, 10th October.
Prescott, who has held the licence at Heath House Stables in Newmarket since 1971, boasts more entries than any other handler and makes a concerted effort to post his initial victory in this historic event which was first contested in 1839.
Irish trainer Tony Martin, who won the Betfred Cesarewitch in 2007 with Leg Spinner and has long gained a reputation as something of a ‘handicap king’ has the second biggest contingent with seven entries headed by Pyromaniac and Cassells Rock.
The 2014 winner, Big Easy, is also entered, alongside this year’s Queen Alexandra Stakes hero, Oriental Fox, and the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite, a recent runner-up in both the Galway Hurdle and the Northumberland Plate.
“The Betfred Cesarewitch is a race that I would absolutely love to win but one in which I have a lamentable record.”
“I’ve had several favourites including Hasten To Add fourth in 1993 who looked sure to win but didn’t stay, and Alleluia sixth in 2001 who probably would have won but for suffering a fracture during the race.”
“This year I could have three or four runners, all with proper credentials. William Of Orange is almost certain to run as long as he is well at the time while Moscato is another who is being aimed at the race as is Deauville Dancer.”
“Moscato is a grand horse who never misses his turn but typically developed uncharacteristic minor lameness just as he was about to run in the Ascot Stakes. He’s back in strong work now and will have one run beforehand.”
“Alcaeus is just about ready to go again now after suffering a hairline crack at Ascot 13 months ago when he was my unluckiest loser of the season. Who knows if he will still be as good after all that time off – and he will have to be even better if he’s going to win it – but he is capable of staying the trip and has the Betfred Cesarewitch as his big target.”
Sponsors Betfred have begun betting on the race with six of the front ten in the betting trained in Ireland. The Willie Mullins-trained Clondaw Warrior leads the way at 10/1, ahead of stablemate Max Dynamite at 12/1.
Andrew Griffiths, Betfred Spokesman, said;
“The Irish have drawn a blank in the Betfred Cesarewitch since 2007 but this could be their year with several talented dual-purpose contenders at the front of the betting.”
Prices for Betfred Cesarewitch
10 Clondaw Warrior; 12 Max Dynamite; 14 Quick Jack; 16 Bayan, Big Easy, Pyromaniac, Sands of Fortune, Seamour, Wicklow Brave, William of Orange; 20 Air Squadron, Alcaeus, Awesome Star, Broxbourne, Digeanta, Eshtiaal, Forever Now, Fun Mac, Future Empire, Gabrial's King, High Secret, Montefeltro, Moscato, Nearly Caught, Oriental Fox, Pallasator, Satellite, Taws, Ted Veale, The Cashel Man, Thomas Edison; 25 Angel Gabrial, Big Thunder, Cape Victoria, Cassells Rock, Deauville Dancer, Gale Force, Gavlar, Golden Doyen, Highland Castle, Important Message, Jolie Blonde, Magic Dancer, Maxwell, Norab, Oasis Fantasy, See And Be Seen, Shades of Silver, Teak, Unanimite; 33 A Greater Force, Alternatif, Aramist, Artful Artist, Arty Campbell, Awaywiththegreys, Blue Wave, Brockwell, Cinnilla, Communicator, Entihaa, First Mohican, Gabrial's Star, Grumeti, Heartbreak City, Le Maitre Chat, Lil Rockerfeller, Low Key, Noble Silk, Pearl Castle, Renneti, Ridgeway Storm, Rite To Reign, Saved By The Bell, Spacious Sky, Statutory, Steve Rogers, Stonecutter, Suegioo, The Twisler, Tommy Docc, Triumphant, Wordiness; 40 Amour de Nuit, Aussie Reigns, Encrypted Message, Full Day, Groovejet, Knightly Escapade, Sea of Heaven, Trimoulet, Yorkidding; 50 Annaluna, Braes of Lochalsh, Duke Street, Icon Dream, Ile de Re, Lindenhurst, One More Go, St Lawrence Gap; 66 Cape Castle, Serenity Now.
Each way terms: ¼ 1-2-3-4-5.
