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Cesarewitch preview

As the British Flat racing season winds down, it doesn't get any easier to find a winner. The Cesarewitch is renowned as one of the toughest races of the year - hats off to Sam Preen, @SamPreen for this epic preview of the 34 runner field.

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BETFRED CESAREWITCH
3:50 NEWMARKET
Class 2 Heritage Handicap
2m 2f, £250,000
.

Saddler’s Rock
A race which jump trainers like to enter, it’s no surprise to see Saddler’s Rock being entered on his first start for Jonjo O’Neill. Not been at his best since a comfortable winner of the 2012 Goodwood Cup, he was disappointing when bidding for back to back wins last year, and though he had an eyecatching performance in the Irish Leger, that proved to be a fluke, having disappointing on all starts this year, including when finishing eleventh (promoted to tenth) in the Ascot Gold Cup, “won” by Estimate. Difficult to fancy now his best days are safely behind him.

Brass Ring
Became a useful stayer in time, having previously finished third to Pique Sous at Ascot, and plugged on past knackered horses to finish a distant fourth in this year’s Goodwood Cup, and was hardly disgraced at the Doncaster Cup, when finishing a short head sixth, three lengths behind winner Estimate, on ground softer than ideal (first run on good to soft). Better ground an obvious plus, as is the drop back down to handicap level.

Suegioo
Has his moment back in May, landing the Chester Cup, from Angel Gabrial, the latter who reversed the form when landing the Northumberland Plate, a 1-2 for the good Dr Koukash, and was a staying on ninth in York’s Ebor, under Paolo Sirigu. Bounced back in the Mallard Stakes in the rain softened ground at Doncaster, keeping on for third, and doing enough to hold of Mick Channon’s Elidor. Fairly versatile when it comes to the ground, and stamina is assured, having picked up the Chester Cup over half a furlong further.

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For the rest of his detailed runner-by-runner preview, read the original article here on his blog.

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