THOSE of us who fancy Cesare to land the Lockinge Stakes can only hope James Fanshawe's runner doesn't waken up this morning and check his birth certificate.
If he does, the seven-year-old might just pull the duvet over his head and go back to sle
ep rather than make the trip to Newbury.
While he's hardly reached the doddery stage, Cesare is getting on a bit in horsey terms, so much so that success this afternoon will take him into the record books as the oldest-ever winner of the Group 1 event, which means anyone who follows trends will be anxious to take on Jamie Spencer's mount.
Let them, because that means we'll get an even bigger price about the class horse in the race.
Despite being an old stager, Cesare hasn't many miles on the clock, so he's still relatively fresh, and while some have labelled him an Ascot specialist, he has enough solid form at plenty of other tracks to argue that particular point.
A cosy winner of his latest start, Cesare deserves to land a big prize and this could be it.
Having had the choice of four options, the fact Aidan O'Brien has opted to pin his hopes on Australian import Haradasun speaks volumes, particularly as the Ballydoyle handler recently reported his new inmate "could be a bit special."
The boy from Down Under has also been reported to be working like a dream on the gallops, but the racecourse is the real coalface, and in that sphere Cesare has already proved his worth.
Unbeaten Phoenix Tower represents Henry Cecil, and any horse who boasts a 100 per cent record should never be underestimated.
Injuries have restricted the colt to just four starts but while his appearances on track have been few and far between, he could hardly have been more impressive when he does show up. As he'll also be flying the flag for Lockinge sponsors Juddmonte, he has plenty going for him but perhaps not quite enough.
Godolphin's start to the season has been a little in-and-out but success for Regal Flush in the Aston Park Stakes would boost the spirits of the boys in blue while Chris Wall's decision to give York a miss yesterday with Royal Rock in favour of heading further south for a stab at Newbury's sprint handicap can reap rich rewards.
Wall's team have been in decent form and, having landed four of his last eight starts, the same could be said of the selection. A winner on his seasonal debut at Yarmouth, Royal Rock holds some fancy entries later in the campaign and if he's as good as those would suggest, a four pounds penalty this afternoon should prove no great hardship.
At Newmarket, Phoenix Tower's stablemate Ajaan can continue on the up, always providing, that is, he remembers that the quickest route between the stalls and the winning post is a straight line.
He made a successful return to action at Headquarters a fortnight ago although not before embarking on a mini-tour of Suffolk, diving first right, then left and then right again after hitting the front a furlong from home.
That sort of behaviour is all very well when you're crossing the road but it tends to make winning races slightly more difficult than it need be, so the fact he still hung on to score by a head shows Ajaan has talent to go with his quirks.
Silver Suitor, who was third home on that occasion, has won since so the form is solid although don't be surprised if Tom Queally's mount is fitted with some sort of sat nav equipment.
The rain has hit Newmarket at just the right time for the nap Enroller who has shown in the past he likes a little bit of give in the ground. Having won a Leicester maiden last month, the best bet was just denied by All The Aces when making a return journey to the course on his handicap debut.
His conqueror has since gone down by less than a length to Doctor Fremantle in the Chester Vase so if the form book is worth the paper it's written on, Enroller is one not to be missed.
At York yesterday, meanwhile, Jamie Osborne's perennial bridesmaid Geordieland finally landed a major prize when swooping late to win the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup. Ridden for the first time by Shane Kelly, who missed most of last season through injury, the seven-year-old was put in front right on the line to deny Royal And Regal an all-the-way success.
The full article contains 782 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
