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Botti hopeful of De Rigueur in Cesarewitch

Marco Botti is hopeful Old Newton Cup winner De Rigueur can bag another big handicap success in the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 11.

Italian trainer Marco Botti
Italian trainer Marco Botti Picture: Racing and Sports

As well as the Haydock scorer, Botti also has Chester Cup winner Suegioo as part of a two-pronged attack on the £250,000 contest.

Suegioo, was who finished second in the Northumberland Plate, was last seen when finishing third in the Mallard Stakes at last week's St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

"The Cesarewitch has always been one of De Rigueur's major targets. I have no concerns over the trip and on soft ground he is still a well handicapped horse, so he could have a good chance.

"The ground was too fast for him in the Ebor - he wouldn't let himself down - and then we took a chance running him at Chester a week later [where he finished third] but I don't think he was at his best that day. He is one of those horses who does not want too many races and needs to be kept fresh."

Speaking about his other runner, Botti continued: "Suegioo ran a good race at Doncaster last week and should also have a good chance. He gets the trip well and has run some good races at Newmarket in the past - he was unlucky in a valuable race there last year."

Botti's hopes of landing the £160,000 Cambridgeshire on September 27 lie with Brazilian-bred Energia Davos who won his first race on British soil in a handicap at Haydock last month.

"Energia Davos is in very good form, we have just been waiting for some cut in the ground with him. He has entries at both Newbury and Ayr this weekend but I do not want to risk him on good to firm ground.

"He likes a strong pace and I think that he will be competitive off his current rating. He did win a Group 1 in Brazil but he was much younger then and I can't say that he is still up to that level."

The sponsors make De Rigueur and Suegioo both 20-1 chances for the Cesarewitch while Energia Davos is 16-1 to land the Cambridgeshire.


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