Kew for a Cambridgeshire gamble

Kew Green caught punters’ imagination in the betting for the totesport Cambridgeshire and has been backed into 8-1 favourite from 14-1 with William Hill for the first leg of the autumn double.

Paul Webber’s charge was also supported down to 10-1 from 16-1 with VC Bet, while the 14-1 with Coral did not last long either and the Barking firm also make him a 10-1 chance. He is also 10s with Ladbrokes.

Kew Green has not been seen out since disappointing at Epsom in June but the seven-year-old had beaten last season’s Cambridgeshire winner, Spanish Don, easily at Newmarket on his previous start.

His jockey, Dane O’Neill, is expecting a bold show and he told At The Races: “It’s a big race but he goes there very well. We’re hopeful of a big run.

“We’ve just freshened him up for when he gets his ground again.”

Kew Green is set to carry 9st 7lb with Momtic on course to shoulder top weight.

The William Jarvis-trained four-year-old has been a model of consistency this season and has earned his burden of 9st 10lb with some solid efforts.

He has won three times with his last victory coming on his most recent start in a valuable handicap at York’s Ebor meeting.

“The plan is to run him in the Cambridgeshire and Alan Munro will ride him again,” Jarvis confirmed.

“The handicapper put him up to 6lb for York and he’s running off a rating of 106.

“He’s got top weight and he’s earned it because he’s won three competitive handicaps and has been in the form of his life but I fear the handicapper has probably got him now.

“It would need a career-best performance to be competitive in the Cambridgeshire.

“He’s improved considerably through the season but eventually the handicapper gets then all.

“He’s been fantastic, a real tough performer, and has been a real credit to us and he’s helped us every inch of the way.”

Jarvis does not harbour too many concerns over conditions on the Rowley Mile course.

He said: “I’m not so much certain that it would be a complete disadvantage to us if it came up soft but it would bring a couple of others in with a good chance – Kew Green especially. He’d be the one that I’d fear.”

All the leading fancies for the Cambridgeshire stood their ground at the confirmation stage including Blue Monday, Pedrillo and Ashkal Way for a race that has a safety limit of 30.

The latter sustained an injury at Newbury earlier this month and his participation at the weekend hinges on a workout on Wednesday.