'She's had the exact same programme as Buzz' - can Henderson win the Ces again?

Saturday: 3.40 Newmarket
Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap | 2m2f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

The jumps season in essence began at Chepstow on Friday and the Cesarewitch looks more akin to a hurdle or chase when you survey the recent roll of honour.

Nicky Henderson beat Willie Mullins last year after a Closutton treble from 2018-20, while Philip Hobbs, Alan King and dual-purpose trainer Hughie Morrison have also etched their names in Newmarket history since 2014.

The jumps yards could dominate again as Henderson is responsible for Ahorsewithnoname, a mare with previous at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ahorsewithnoname ran second in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in March and has translated her smart jumping form to the Flat with a pair of comfortable successes at Newbury and York. She has risen 16lb in the weights since, but crucially is drawn high in stall 17.

While her stablemate Buzz managed to defy a similarly lengthy absence when storming home from stall six last season, the previous six winning boxes were 20, 20, 13, 24, 23 and 15.

Run For Oscar disputes favouritism with Ahorsewithnoname for another well-established jumps trainer in Charles Byrnes. The seven-year-old has perhaps drawn lower than ideal in stall nine, but is clearly progressing and it is a positive that Byrnes is 3-6 on the Flat in Britain since 2019.

Mullins has trained three winners, two seconds and a third since 2017 and his three representatives merit the utmost respect.

Scaramanga is a fascinating stable debutant for the yard in stall 12 after leaving Paul Nicholls and represents the same jockey and owner in Jason Watson and Malcom Denmark as 2020 scorer Great White Shark.

Watson appears to be a go-to man in the Cesarewitch for Mullins, having also landed this race with Stratum in 2019. Although Scaramanga disappointed in this last year off 3lb higher, stayers from this source can never be discounted and this seven-year-old is surely ready to go. He was declared for the Irish Cesarewitch two weeks ago but missed the race as a reserve.

Gibraltar is less exposed and in the neighbouring box in 13. Mullins deploys the services of 3lb claimer Saffie Osborne for the first time and this progressive sort is feared, but Baby Zeus in stall 22 might be the answer.

While Baby Zeus is yet to show his best for the master trainer, he is yet to encounter further than 1m5f on the Flat. Mullins knows the family well having trained Baby Zeus’s sister Lagostovegas to land the 2018 Ascot Stakes over a marathon 2m4f.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Can the Buzz prep work for Henderson again?

On a Saturday when the jumps season curtain-raiser continues at Chepstow, Nicky Henderson’s attention will initially be 200 miles east as he bids for a fourth Cesarewitch with big-race fancy Ahorsewithnoname.

The Seven Barrows trainer landed the heritage handicap with Buzz last year and he has followed the same preparation — to the day — with his Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle runner-up, who was last in action when a five-length winner at York in May.

Irish Cesarewitch winner Waterville was ante-post favourite for this event but instead could head to Ascot for the Long Distance Cup next week, enabling Ryan Moore to maintain the partnership with Ahorsewithnoname, a four-time winner from five Flat starts.

Henderson said: "She’s had the exact same programme which we used with Buzz last season, I even bought her in from the field on the same day and took her for a gallop at Newbury on the same date.

"All has gone well and I hope she can go and do the same thing now. She’s very professional and knows her job well."

Buzz joined Landing Light and Caracciola on the race’s honour roll for Henderson, while Moore’s sole victory came as an apprentice aboard Miss Fara for Martin Pipe 20 years ago.

What they say

Jim Boyle, trainer of Going Gone
This has been on his agenda for a long time so we’re pleased to get him there in good shape. I’m under no illusions it’s a tough task but hopefully he can run a big race. The trip will be no issue.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Zoffee
This has been the target for him and I felt he was unlucky at York, where he could well have finished second. He looked like he would stay this far when not quite seeing out two and a half miles at Goodwood and good ground is perfect for him. Frankie [Dettori] was very keen to ride him, they were just chinned at the July meeting and he feels they have unfinished business.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Baby Zeus, Gibraltar and Scaramanga
Scaramanga’s last two runs were disappointing. We’ve left off all the headgear and the trip and the ground will suit. Baby Zeus has never ran over this far but he’s a brother to Lagostovegas, who won the Ascot Stakes. There’s plenty of stamina in his family. Gibraltar has found his form and looks like he will have no problem over this trip, given the manner of his recent wins.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Not So Sleepy and Vino Victrix
Vino Victrix was very pleasing at Goodwood and we’ve not run him since to go for this. A heavy shower overnight would be ideal for him, while Not So Sleepy could do with a deluge. He did run well on fast ground at Ascot, however, and is in flying form.

Dominic Ffrench Davis, trainer of Call My Bluff
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. He’d ideally like a bit more rain but he’s 3lb well in and ran well in the Trial on good ground.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

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

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

Have you tried the new Racing Post app? Its new game-changing odds comparison allows you to check the price and place terms all on one simple screen. Make sure you get the best price on all your bets! The new app is available here.