Considering the distance of the Betfred Cesarewitch, it’s no surprise that jumping converts have enjoyed a measure of success down the years. Miss Fara, Landing Light, Detroit City, Leg Spinner and Carraciola have all transferred winning form over the jumps on to the Flat for this traditional end-of-season marathon in the last 10 years. And what’s equally significant is that all of those named were saddled by top-notch National Hunt trainers – the jumping boys are out again in force this season.
Nicky Henderson never wastes a trip to Newmarket and his mare Veiled is fancied to enhance his strike rate in this year’s Cesarewitch. She came right back to form over hurdles in the spring, winning a Listed handicap at Cheltenham in April and finishing fourth at the Punchestown Festival, and she’s continued that improvement on to the Flat. After accounting for Cesarewitch rival Gifted Leader (75/1 on betfair) over 1m6f at Newmarket, the five-year-old showed a nice turn of foot to beat Ermyn Lodge (20/1 with Skybet and bodog) and Phoenix Flight (75/1 on betfair) in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes and should comfortably confirm that form with the placed horses. Neither stamina nor the quick ground will be a problem for Veiled, who still has scope for further improvement on the Flat, and she should take all the beating at the general 11/1.
Another winning hurdler to consider is Beyond (12/1 with Coral and Ladbrokes). David Pipe‘s father Martin trained the winner of the race in 2002 and this lightly-raced four-year-old looks a similar type. He has only had one run on the level this year, winning over 1m6f at Sandown in July, and though he has to improve on that to get involved at Newmarket, that is a feasible scenario. Pipe also saddles Tasheba (41/1 on betfair) and Big Occasion (51/1 on betfair), the latter due to be ridden by Joseph O’Brien, while Mark Johnston also has three in the starting line-up. Colour Vision (31/1 on betfair), Becausewecan (85/1 on betfair) and Bowdlers Magic (also 85/1 on betfair) all carry penalties, however, and may be worth opposing on this occasion.
Keys doesn’t have winning form over hurdles but it’s surely only a matter of time before that happens as Roger Charlton‘s gelding was unbeaten in three runs in bumpers last winter. He’s also shown himself top be no slouch on the Flat either, winning over 2m at Newbury and Ascot in July. He had Colour Vision behind in the latter race and Cosimo De Medici (a general 16/1) was only sixth at Newbury but Hughie Morrison‘s charge has improved to win twice since, both at Newmarket, and is much better off at the weights now. He could easily go close and is one of the likely dangers to Veiled‘s hopes on maintaining her unbeaten record on the Flat in 2011.
