Wednesday, September 19, 2001
PRESCOTT ON COURSE FOR AUTUMN DOUBLE ATTEMPT
No trainer has won both the Tote Cambridgeshire and Tote Cesarewitch in the same year since 1925.
Sir Mark Prescott, with the hot favourites for both the £120,000 Tote Cambridgeshire and £120,000 Tote Cesarewitch in his stable, is in pole position for an attempt to become the first trainer for 76 years to land both legs of Newmarket's famous Autumn Double.
The latest forfeits for both races are published today (Wednesday), with ALPHAEUS, currently 11-2 favourite with the sponsors, one of 91 horses to stand their ground in the Tote Cambridgeshire on Saturday 6 October. ALLELUIA is one of 61 left in the Tote Cesarewitch, the big handicap on Champions' Day on Saturday 20th October. She is the Tote's red hot 2-1 favourite with a run'.
Prescott yesterday described ALPHAEUS as a "very likely runner", with his other Tote Cambridgeshire entry, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, "very unlikely to run". The defection of the current joint top weight, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, would leave the Jeremy Noseda-trained MAN OF MYSTERY heading the weights on his own on 9st 7lbs, closely followed by DUCK ROW (9st 6lbs), with last year's winner, KATY NOWAITEE, and the Lincoln winner, NIMELLO, just behind on 9st 4lbs.
The participation of ALLELUIA, who will be 19 pounds well in on official ratings if taking her chance in the Tote Cesarewitch, was described yesterday as being "50/50" by Prescott. "She would not run if it was very soft," added the Newmarket handler, "but I have yet to discuss it with the filly's owners." With a 7lb penalty for last week's brilliant Doncaster Cup success, ALLELUIA would still only have to carry 8st in the two-and-a-quarter mile contest. The Philip Hobbs-trained BROTHER JOE has stood his ground as top weight on 9st 10lbs, closely followed by the first of Martin Pipe's seven acceptors, POLAR RED, on 9st 9lbs. Pipe won the race 12 months ago with HEROS FATAL, who is set to carry 9st 2lbs this year.
Prescott has two Cambridgeshires to his name already, QUINLAN TERRY scoring at odds of 11-1 in 1988 and PASTERNAK landing a massive gamble as the 4-1 favourite in 1997. He has never won the Cesarewitch.
The last trainer to land the Autumn Double was S.H. Darling who, in 1925, saddled MASKED MARVEL to win the Cambridgeshire and FORSETI to land the Cesarewitch.
Tickets for Tote Cambridgeshire and Champion's Day can be booked in advance by calling Newmarket on 01638 675500, with 10% advance booking discounts still available for Champion's Day. On Cambridgeshire Day, a giant screen will be showing uninterrupted coverage of the England vs Greece World Cup Qualifier for those who want to watch it.
ANTE-POST BETTING AT LADBROKES
Ghazal cut to 10's
Punters have latched on to both Ghazal & Antonio Canova for Saturday's Ayr
Gold, the 12/1 available on Sir Michael Stoutes handicapper was quickly
snapped up forcing the cut to 10/1. Another horse attracting the money is
the Bob Jones trained Antonio Canova who is now 8/1 second favourite from
10/1.
Abbajabba has been eased in the market to 14/1 from 12/1
Tote Ayr Gold Cup
7 Guinea Hunter, 8 from 10 Antonio Canova, 10 from 12 Ghazal, 12 Indian
Spark, 12 Summerhill Parkes, 14 Continent, 14 Abbajabba, 16 Banjo Bay, 16
Undeterred, 16 Honesty Fair, 16 Seven No Trumps, 16 Tayif, 20 Brevity, 20
Candleriggs, 20 Ellens Academy, 20 Needwood Blade, 20 Smokin Beau, 20 Ho
Leng, 20 Jessicas Dream, 25 Get Stuck In, 25 Marsad, 25 Marweh, 25
Technician, 25 Galloway Bay, 28 Orientor
28 Perfect Peach, 28 Halm
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
|
