Bajan bypasses Ces tilt

Top-weight Blue Bajan has been ruled out of Saturday’s totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Andy Turnell’s seven-year-old may be more renowned for his exploits over hurdles, but he has run a couple of fine races on the level this summer, chasing home Ask in the Yorkshire Cup and finishing fourth in a Listed event at Chester.

The son of Montjeu would be forced to give upwards of 9lb all round in this weekend’s fiercely competitive handicap, so Turnell is going to let him take his chance in the Group Three Jockey Club Cup on the same card instead.

“After speaking with the owner this morning, we have decided to go for the Jockey Club Cup rather than the Cesarewitch,” said the Swindon handler.

“He obviously has plenty of weight in the Cesarewitch but it is more just that he is giving a lot away and the gap is bigger than we thought it would be.

“Everything has gone well since Chester and I thought he needed the run a little that day so hopefully he has come on.

“After Newmarket, the plan is to go back over hurdles and he might start off in a race at Wincanton, but his main aim is the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“All being well, the plan is for Michael Hills to ride him on Saturday.”