2m2f Emirates Cesarewitch Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+)
I love the Cesarewitch and this is another cracking renewal at Newmarket. Buildmeupbuttercup is quite rightly popular in the market with Frankie Dettori on board for last year’s winner Willie Mullins.
The favourite looks a bit too short a price as does Ranch Hand who represents one of two very good chances for the classic generation. Land Of Oz is the other and I fancied him strongly in ante-post markets. But his wide draw could hamper his chances in this.
Instead I like the chances of GREAT WHITE SHARK, who won a good flat handicap at the Galway Festival in July. She followed that up with a third in a handicap hurdle contest five days later and although Great White Shark’s last run seemed a bit timid, I expect a much bolder show from this daughter of Le Havre this time around as she remains unexposed on the flat and has a nice draw in stall 10.
I’m also going to back another Irish raider in the shape of MR EVEREST, trained by Tony Martin. This son of Cape Cross remains lightly raced at the age of six and he is 3/9 on the flat including a fine third in the Irish edition last season.
Mr Everest is 3lbs higher here, but looks like he could still be getting into this on a lenient mark of 86 as he has some very solid form over both codes.
The rain that is falling will be positive to his chances and you can imagine that this has been the plan for the yard all season.
1pt each-way Mr Everest @12/1, 16:10 Newmarket, Saturday (1-7 places, 1/5 odds, Coral)
1pt each-way Great White Shark @14/1, 16:10 Newmarket, Saturday (1-8 places, 1/5 odds, Skybet)