Cesarewitch tips & runner-by-runner guide to Newmarket 3.40

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

A bumper field of 22 are set to tackle one of the biggest staying handicaps of the Flat season at Newmarket on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson saddled last year’s Cesarewitch winner and fires the well fancied Ahorsewithnoname at this year’s renewal in a bid to make it back-to-back successes in the 2m2f contest.

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National Hunt trainers have farmed the race in recent years and Willie Mullins has three fancies in his bid to land the top prize for a record-equalling fourth time.

Cesarewitch odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, otherwise Timeform’s nifty guide to the runners and riders plus betting tips is below.

Cesarewitch runners

Ranch Hand

Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: William Carver Age: 6 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 11

Smart gelding who wasn’t disgraced after 16 months off when fourth of 5 to Nate The Great in 2m listed race here 16 days ago. This course winner needs considering with that run under his belt.

***

Favorite Moon

Trainer: William Durkan Jockey: S. B. Kelly Age: 5 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 18

Useful winner on the level for William Haggas who opened his account for his current yard in 2m2f novice hurdle at Downpatrick 22 days ago. Cheekpieces go back on and he’s no forlorn hope.

***

Going Gone

Trainer: Jim Boyle Jockey: Pat Cosgrave Age: 4 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 19

Course winner who arrives on the back of a career-best success in Mallard (14.5f) at Doncaster 27 days ago by head from HMS President. Proven over this trip so possibilities under a 4 lb penalty.

***

Withhold

Trainer: Harry & Roger Charlton Jockey: David Probert Age: 9 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 23

2017 winner but he doesn’t look the force of old and wasn’t disgraced when sixth of 12 in 2m handicap at York in August. Visor replaces usual cheekpieces but others appeal more.

Not So Sleepy

Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: Adam Kirby Age: 10 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 5

Very useful dual-purpose performer who has run with credit in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot and a Sandown listed race this season but others arrive with more compelling claims.

***

Inchicore

Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 5 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 10

Resumed winning ways in 1¾m handicap at Goodwood in May and has posted solid efforts to make the frame in Old Newton Cup at Haydock and Mallard at Doncaster since. Much respected.

***

Rock Eagle

Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Non Runner Age: 7 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 7

NON RUNNER

Ahorsewithnoname

Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 7 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 17

Low-mileage 7-y-o who posted an excellent second in Dawn Run Hurdle at Cheltenham before resuming her progress with fluent wins in 2m handicaps at Newbury and York later in the spring. Represents last year’s winning yard so she is not taken lighty after her break with Ryan Moore again up.

****

Prince Imperial

Trainer: Richard Hughes Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 5 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 14

Three-time winner in 2021 who got back on track when second of 10 in handicap over C&D 21 days ago. Shortlisted.

***

Zoffee

Trainer: Hugo Palmer Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 1

Has had a very good spell for his new yard back on the Flat. winning at Carlisle and Newcastle, and he suffered a poor run when third of 12 in 2m handicap at York last time. Not discounted nudged up just 1 lb.

***

Baby Zeus

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: William Buick Age: 5 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 22

Useful Irish winner who comes here in good nick, sixth of 23 in 13f handicap at Leopardstown 28 days ago. Yard has excellent record here so he can’t be dismissed stepping up significantly in trip.

****

Bascule

Trainer: Richard Hughes Jockey: George Rooke Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 16

Four-time winner in 2022 who caught the eye when fifth of 10 in Cesarewitch Trial over C&D 21 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Cheekpieces go on now and he’s in the mix.

***

Vino Victrix

Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: Benoit de la Sayette Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 2

Proved at least as good as ever as he finally got off the mark for the season in 2m handicap at Goodwood in August, forging clear. Can go well again under a 4 lb penalty.

***

Run For Oscar

Trainer: Charles Byrnes Jockey: David Egan Age: 7 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 9

Made up into a very useful hurdler last year, bagging a brace of big-field handicaps at 2m4f/2m6f, and he ran out an emphatic winner back in this sphere in 2m Haydock handicap in August. Looks to have a fair bit more to offer and most interesting.

*****

Evaluation

Trainer: Keith Dalgleish Jockey: Graham Lee Age: 4 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 6

Vastly improved this term, winning his first four starts for this yard. Posted another good effort when caught on the line in 14f Sandown handicap in August and another bold showing is on the cards now he goes up in trip off an unchanged mark.

****

HMS President

Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton Jockey: Georgia Dobie Age: 5 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 8

Scored at Goodwood in June and arrives on the back of 4 successive runner-up efforts, going down by only a head in Mallard at Doncaster latest. This durable sort is likely to give another good account on his first go at a marathon trip.

***

Scaramanga

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Jason Watson Age: 7 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 12

Very useful winning hurdler who wasn’t disgraced when 11th in Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in June on his final run for Paul Nicholls. Still lightly raced on the level so he’s not without interest on his debut for yard with an excellent record in this event.

***

Moliwood

Trainer: Dylan Cunha Jockey: Connor Beasley Age: 4 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 20

Four-time winner for Marco Botti, final one at Kempton (2m) in January. Made an encouraging start for his new yard when fourth at Ascot only to come in last of 10 (tongue tied) in Mallard at Doncaster. Has something to prove now.

Land Of Winter

Trainer: Rae Guest Jockey: Thore Hammer-Hansen Age: 6 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 4

Ended 2021 with an emphatic win in 2m Nottingham handicap but has found life tougher off higher marks this season. Others arrive with more solid claims.

Author’s Dream

Trainer: William Knight Jockey: Andrea Atzeni Age: 9 Weight: 8st 8lbs Draw: 3

Scored at Southwell (2m) in February and he has posted two solid placed efforts after a break at Goodwood and Newcastle. Has proven stamina and not ruled out.

***

Call My Bluff

Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis Jockey: Hayley Turner Age: 5 Weight: 8st 6lbs Draw: 21

Dual 2m winner last term who comes here on the back of good placed efforts in Cesarewitch Trial over C&D and 2m Chester handicap. On the shortlist eased 1 lb.

***

Gibraltar

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Saffie Osborne Age: 5 Weight: 8st 5lbs Draw: 13

Irish challenger who arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back handicap wins around 2m at Leopardstown and Tramore. He remains on a workable mark despite a 7 lb rise so is very much one to consider.

****

Mukha Magic

Trainer: Gay Kelleway Jockey: Faye McManoman Age: 6 Weight: 8st 1lbs Draw: 15

Already a five-time winner this year at 14f/2m and he posted another solid run when seventh of 16 at Nottingham 10 days ago. Not without hope under a 4 lb penalty.

***