OSCAR’S NOMINATED
Irish to reap Cesarewitch reward
RUN FOR OSCAR (3.40, nap) has the gears to scoop the pot in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket.
Willie Mullins landed a recent hat-trick in this race and now it is the turn of Charles Byrnes’ runner to be lucky for the Irish.
Progressive under both codes, the stayer justified market support to capture a Haydock handicap by four lengths in August.
Not the easiest race to win, as the leader held a huge advantage turning into the straight, Run For Oscar rose to the challenge.
Kept wide, the sevenyear-old picked up with gusto inside the final two furlongs to score with plenty in hand.
With his stamina guaranteed, an 8lb rise from the handicapper is unlikely to scupper the follow-up bid.
The Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes favourite
NOSTRUM
(3.00) can remain unbeaten.
He is still green but has already dispatched some useful types in two starts to date.
Kingman’s son will need to go up another notch to defeat Chaldean, carrying the same Juddmonte colours and Naval Power, whose trainer Charlie Appleby has a good record in this.
Appleby’s FLYING HONOURS (1.50) sets the benchmark in the Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes, while Frankie Dettori’s, left, mount
EPICTETUS
(2.25) can step up from his debut to take the Group Three Emirates Autumn Stakes. At York, POPMASTER (3.15) is overdue a big prize in the Coral Sprint Trophy.
The grey is just 1lb higher than when runner-up in the Wokingham to Rohaan, who has been up to the task in Group company since.
Seventh last year, he is the type to bounce back after a below-par run in the Ayr Gold Cup.
William Haggas should double up with Listed Coral Rockingham Stakes entrant ALPHA CAPTURE (2.05, nb) and PROTAGONIST (2.40).
The latter, tenth in the Cambridgeshire, will be more at home tackling five rivals in the Coral Free Bet Handicap.