Could Arc hero Morris land Cesarewitch? Call My Bluff cut to 12-1 from 20-1

Six days on from Arc glory on Alpinista, Luke Morris bids to land the Cesarewitch on Call My Bluff and the improving stayer has been shortened to 12-1 (from 20) for the big Newmarket handicap (3.40).

Morris had been booked to ride ante-post fancy Adagio in the Cesarewitch, but the talented hurdler suffered a fatal heart attack on the gallops at David Pipe's yard on Thursday morning.

The jockey switched to the Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained Call My Bluff, who finished third in the Cesarewitch trial at this track before posting a career-best Racing Post Rating when second at Chester last time.

Ffrench Davis said in our preview: "His last two runs came in quick succession, and if that hasn’t left its mark, he should be very competitive. He’s very consistent and still improving."

Vino Victrix continues to prove popular and has been halved in price to 8-1 (from 16 on Friday).

Hughie Morrison won the Cesarewitch with Sweet Selection in 2016 and Vino Victrix, the mount of Benoit de la Sayette, is trying 2m2f for the first time on the back of an easy win over 2m at Goodwood in August. The runner-up, Malakahna, scored at Ascot last week.

William Buick: won the opener on Flying Honours and rides Baby Zeus in the CesarewitchCredit: Edward Whitaker

Baby Zeus, one of three runners for Willie Mullins and the mount of William Buick, is 9-1 (from 12).

Chaldean is being backed in opposition to the fellow Juddmonte-owned Dewhurst favourite Nostrum.

The Andrew Balding-trained colt is a best price 11-4 (from 7-2 on Friday) for the Group 1 event at Newmarket (3.00), with Nostrum heading the betting at 2-1.

Chaldean has won three of his four starts and is partnered again by Frankie Dettori on the back of running out a convincing winner of the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting last month.

Dettori said on ITV’s Opening Show: “He did nothing wrong at Doncaster and the two horses in behind were not bad. He gave me a good feel and he’s going places.

"We all come into the race with similar profiles and that’s why the Dewhurst is there – to find out who is the king of the jungle.

“He’s very uncomplicated and straightforward. He’s a joy to ride and you can have all sorts of different plans with him.”

Chris Gordon enjoyed two winners at Chepstow on Friday and Unanswered Prayers, one of his two Silver Trophy (4.02) runners and ridden by the trainer's son Freddie, is 6-1 (from 16). Gordon's last four runners have been successful.

Market movers

Newmarket3.00 Chaldean 11-4 (from 7-2)
York3.15 Lucky Man 8-1 (from 11)
Newmarket3.40 Vino Victrix 9-1 (from 16), Baby Zeus 9-1 (from
12), Call My Bluff 12-1 (from 20)
Chepstow4.02 Unanswered Prayers 6-1 (from 16)

Updated at 1.55pm

McFabulous taken out at Chepstow

Chepstow officials have watered the chase track overnight to maintain the description of good to firm, good in places.

The course was helped by five and a half millimetres of rain arriving during racing on Friday, day one of the traditional two-day jumps season opener, but officials decided to water the chase track again to ensure safe ground.

McFabulous, a three-time Grade 2 winner over hurdles, will not be making his planned chasing debut on the card (2.52), however, with Paul Nicholls taking him out on account of the ground on Saturday morning.

There will be just two runners in the Listed novice chase after Interne De Sivola was declared a non-runner via a self certificate (not eaten up).

The going on the hurdle course remains good, with a dry day forecast and temperatures set to peak at 15C. The feature Wasdell Group Silver Trophy takes place at 4.02.

Chepstow’s clerk of the course Libby O’Flaherty said on Saturday morning: “We were lucky to have the rain yesterday afternoon and that helped eased the hurdle track a bit. We have watered the chase track again overnight, applying 10mm in the home straight and have eased the back straight slightly with a dry and bright day forecast.

“The jockeys were really pleased with the track yesterday, they said the hurdle course rode really nicely and the chase course is what it is but was safe ground.”

The going remains good at Newmarket, where the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (3.00) and Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (3.40) take centre stage.

There was 0.8mm of rain at the track around the time of the concluding Pride Stakes on Friday’s card, with a dry day and gentle breeze forecast on Saturday. Temperatures are set to reach 15C on Saturday.

Michael Prosser, clerk of the course at Newmarket, said at 8.10am: “There’s not too much change from yesterday. It was dry overnight, we had a heavy dew this morning and it was quite chilly.

“The jockeys felt it was good ground yesterday and you could definitely see the horses get into the ground more when the rain came for the Pride Stakes, but it will settle down again today.”

Non-runners

Chepstow 2.52 McFabulous (going)
Newmarket 3.40 Ranch Hand (lame), Rock Eagle (sore)
York 2.05 Secret Angel (cut leg), 3.15 Dusky Lord (going)

Posted at 9am

Read our Saturday previews:

1.50 Newmarket: 'It can play to his strengths' – Zetland test expected to suit Flying Honours

2.25 Newmarket: can Appleby and Buick springboard another star in the Autumn Stakes?

3.00 Newmarket: 'This has always been the plan' – trainers on the day's Group 1

3.15 York: 'This is a nice prize' – key trainer quotes for valuable sprint handicap at York

3.40 Newmarket: 'She's had the exact same programme as Buzz' – can Henderson win the Ces again?

4.02 Chepstow: 'He's been working nicely' – find out who is expecting a big Silver Trophy run

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