Cecil faces maximum field

Sergeant Cecil will face a full field of 36 runners as he bids for a unique treble in the totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

Rod Millman’s charge will be trying to become the first horse to complete the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch hat-trick.

The six-year-old will shoulder 9st 8lb in his record bid, just below top weight True Love on 9st 10lb.

Hot favourite for the race is Nicky Henderson’s Afrad, winner of his last two starts and the mount of six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon, while Sir Mark Prescott’s Elusive Dream is also well-fancied.

There were no surprise withdrawals from the two-mile-two-furlong contest at the final declaration stage, with recent Listed winner Land‘n Stars standing his ground along with fancied runners Odiham, Escayola, Baddam and King Revo.

Aidan O’Brien has a rare handicap runner in Hippodrome while Martin Pipe, who has won the race twice in the last five years, runs three in Fortune Island, Penny Pictures and Calamintha.