Piper can call the tune

NEWMARKET’S Cesarewitch Handicap invariably presents punters with a tricky puzzle to solve – but Pied Piper stands out from this year’s contenders.

The five-year-old was a winner at this course and at Leicester on the Flat for John and Thady Gosden before making a successful switch to the National Hunt sphere with Gordon Elliott.

Pied Piper finished third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and was only denied a share of Grade One glory at Aintree in the stewards’ room during his first campaign over timber.

When reverting back to the level at Royal Ascot a couple of months later, Pied Piper was unable to find a clear passage at a crucial time in the Ascot Stakes, but still managed to finish a fair sixth of 19.

Another decent jumps campaign brought wins at Cheltenham and

Down Royal, as well as a close second in the County Hurdle at the Festival.

Elliott’s charge had a blow-out on the Flat at Killarney in August and has since been prepared for this twomile-two-furlong challenge.

When on song, Pied Piper has a lovely cruising speed that feels tailormade for the Cesarewitch and the booking of Ryan Moore shows that connections are confident of his current well-being.

City Of Troy is expected to justify his position at the head of next year’s 2000 Guineas betting by landing the Group One Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien predictably has a fine record in this race, scoring with the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar, Churchill and St Mark’s Basilica.

This son of Justify created a huge impression when romping home by over six lengths in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course, with subsequent Goodwood Group Two victor Haatem back in second. A break of 91 days is obviously worth noting, but unlikely to be an issue.

Brian Lawless/PA Pied Piper has to be respected over the jumps or on the Flat