Wednesday 16th September 2009
Aaajel 'possible' for Saturday trial
Marcus Tregoning is weighing up the options regarding his totesport.com Cesarewitch (3.40pm) hope Aajel (8st 8lb) as he considers unleashing the lightly-raced five-year-old in the Investec Cesarewitch Trial Handicap at Newmarket this Saturday, 19th September, in preparation for the main event at the course on Champions’ Day, Saturday, 17th October.
The £160,000 two and a quarter-mile heritage handicap is one of the feature events on Champions’ Day and Aajel is one of 77 horses remaining at the scratching stage.
The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned gelding won a two-mile handicap at Yarmouth on 30th August, his first racecourse appearance for two years. That victory sees him available at 14/1 with the sponsor for the totesport.com Cesarewitch, which has a safety limit of 34 runners.
The Investec Cesarewitch Trial Handicap is run for the first time on Saturday, with the 18-furlong race taking place over the same distance as the totesport.com Cesarewitch. Of the 22 entries for Saturday’s trial, 17 are in the the totesport.com Cesarewitch
Tregoning revealed today: "I think Aajel will run in the totesport.com Cesarewitch for certain. We haven’t decided whether to run him in the prep race, the Investec Cesarewitch Trial at the weekend.
"There are two ways of thinking about this. One is that he has only had the one race this year and it’s a case of whether he is battle-hardened enough to win the Cesarewitch off that. Bearing in mind that he is a great big horse and that he is lightly-raced, he may benefit from another run, that is why he was put in this race on Saturday.
"Obviously, the other thing to consider is that if he won it he would have an extra penalty. We’re in two minds about it, so we’ll have to decide at declaration time.
"He had a problem with a tendon so he has had two years off and we are very delighted to get him back looking so well and performing so well. He is sound and working and just waiting on our decision.
"I don’t want it heavy for him or anything like that but I don’t think it ever gets like that at Newmarket."
The David Simcock-trained Darley Sun made a mockery of the ratings when a close runner-up to Askar Tau in the Group Two Doncaster Cup over the distance at Doncaster on 11th September. The Tiger Hill three-year-old has 7st 11lb and is the 6/1 favourite with the sponsor.
Swingkeel (8st 11lb) from the John Dunlop yard is 8/1 second favourite after winning a two-mile York handicap in August, while Sweetheart (7st 8lb), who had Dunlop’s charge in third when winning the Goodwood Stakes over two miles and five furlongs at Glorious Goodwood in July, is a 12/1 shot.
Bahrain Storm (8st 12lb), a 12/1 chance trained by Pat Flynn, is one of six Irish-trained raiders to stand their ground. John Queally could run top-class hurdler Al Eile (8st 10lb) as well as Elyaadi (7st 13lb), while Gordon Elliott may send both Dirar (8st 4lb) and Hearthstead Dream (7st 5lb). The John Hanlon-trained Trucker’s Delight (8st) is also a possible contender.
The Andrew Turnell-trained Blue Bajan heads the weights on 9st 11lb, while the Declan Carroll-trained Hits Only Vic (9st 5lb) is a 12/1 shot with totesport.
The Bryan Smart-trained Wells Lyrical is 10/1 with totesport following some good efforts this term, including when third in the Listed Esher Stakes over two miles at Sandown in July.
Mark Johnston saddled Contact Dancer (2004) and Spirit Of Love (1998) to win the totesport Cesarewitch and the trainer’s Yes Mr President (8st 8lb)is a 12/1 shot, while Keene’s Day (8st 6lb) and Alanbrooke (7st 13lb) also stand their ground.
The Paul Cole-trained Precision Break (8st 12lb) received a 4lb penalty for winning a mile and a half Doncaster handicap on 12th September.
Detroit City was successful in 2006 for Philip Hobbs and Fair Along (8st 8lb), third to Leg Spinner in 2007, could represent the trainer this time.
The Jim Goldie-trained Nanton (9st 3lb) is also engaged in the totesport.com Cambridgeshire and could bid to become the first horse to complete the Autumn Double since Plaisanterie in 1885. The last trainer to complete the double was Sam Darling in 1925.
The Brian Meehan-trained Aaim To Prosper (7st 13lb) defeated Yes Mr President to win the Shergar Cup Stayers before finishing third to Swingkeel at York, while the Dandy Nicholls-trained Hindu Kush (8st 9lb) defeated subsequent Irish St Leger winner Alandi to win a Listed contest in May.
Mick Quinlan saddled Silk Affair to win at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the filly, a 14/1 shot, is among the acceptors on 8st 3lb.
Henry Cecil could run Ajaan (8st 12lb), the Clive Cox-trained Electrolyser (8st 9lb) is 14/1 with the sponsor and may take his chance, while Alan Swinbank is eying the contest for Thirsk winner Saga De Tercey (8st 1lb), also 14/1 with totesport.
