Frankie Dettori and John Gosden up for the Rowley Cup with First In Line

4.10 Newmarket
bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap | Heritage Handicap | 1m4f | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

First In Line next in line?

The race sponsors will be nervously watching this big-field handicap as they have paid a heavy price with winning favourites this autumn in what are usually wide-open handicaps.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori started the ball rolling with on-the-day gamble Lord North beating 29 rivals in the Cambridgeshire and they combine again with ante-post favourite First In Line ready to compound bet365's misery.

Kynren, backed into 11-4 (from 8) to beat 16 rivals, rubbed salt into the wound in Ascot's Challenge Cup last Saturday.

Pat Cooney, of bet365, said: "The irony of these wide-open handicaps being won by the heavily-backed favourites is not lost on us and in this race last year it looked anyone's race and the favourite [Rock Eagle] won. We have made First In Line favourite with the 'Frankie factor' but again it does look wide open!"

First In Line looked progressive before finishing down the field at Haydock after finding just Hamish too good when favourite for the Melrose at York.

Gosden said: "He didn't really handle the heavy ground at Haydock last time and has to bounce back but he's been working nicely and this is a nice race to go for."

Stoute mustard with progressive three-year-olds

Sir Michael Stoute is renowned for his patience with potential middle-distance performers and looks to have another in Derevo, who has gradually stepped up in trip in his five-race career much like the stable's former race winner Mustard in 2015.

Derevo: winning under Louis Steward at Newcastle in JulyCredit: GROSSICK RACING (racingpost.com/photos)

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He is a nice, scopey and progressive horse. He will hopefully enjoy a bit of cut in the ground and is in good form but he is getting high in the weights."

Prescott's Paradise an unknown quantity

Bookmakers are taking no chances with Battle Of Paradise, who is getting upwards of a stone from his market rivals on handicap debut after three runs over shorter on the all-weather.

Trainer Sir Mark Prescott said: "He has always worked like a nice horse but is going into unknown territory as it's his first time on grass and over the trip."

Logician's form tested

Natty Night was unsurprisingly brushed aside by Logician when getting 15lb from the subsequent St Leger winner at Newbury but the Nathaniel colt has squeezed in at the bottom of this valuable handicap.

Trainer William Muir said: "He's got form which says he is close to the favourite on a line in the Melrose at York through our Just Hubert, who was third when Natty Night was second at Newbury.

"He is in terrific shape and will like the ground. It's a pity he is 2lb out of the handicap but we have countered that with Rhiain's [Ingram] 5lb claim and I don't think he will be far away."

What they say

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Mohammed Jaber, owner of Sinjaari
He's been unlucky – he would have won at Newbury but lost a shoe early when just beaten by Headman – and there is a big one in him. The trip is probably his limit and he is training very well.

Sinjaari (red cap): narrowly denied by the talented Headman at Newbury in MayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Roger Varian, trainer of Apparate
He's in good form. He's got a wide draw but hopefully that won't matter too much. He won well over the distance last time, has been improving all year and, while it's a competitive race, he should hopefully be there or thereabouts.

Alan King, trainer of Trueshan
Easy ground won’t bother Trueshan, who produced a career-best despite finishing second to Ranch Hand in his first run in a handicap at Haydock. The winner is a big fancy for the Cesarewitch, and a strongly-run 12 furlongs should bring out the best in him.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Rhythmic Intent
He could have done without being drawn 19 of 19 unfortunately. He ran a nice race at Ascot last time when it wasn't run to suit him and the likely good ground will be fine.

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