Fox in hunt for Ces glory

Mark Johnston’s Fox Hunt has been allotted top weight for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 8.

Already a Royal Ascot winner this season, the four-year-old has continued to perform with credit as he has risen through the ranks.

He was last seen finishing sixth in the Ebor at York, having previously taken fourth spot in the Goodwood Cup.

The likes of German-trained Lacateno, the Queen’s Tactician, last year’s winner Aaim To Prosper and 2009 victor Darley Sun are also towards the head of the weights.

Francois Doumen’s Diamond Boy would also have a welter burden, but he is under serious consideration for the race.

“I have got to study the handicap so I have not made a definite plan yet regarding the Cesarewitch,” said Doumen.

“There are other possibilities in France. He is French and he gets the premiums in France but I need to consider the Cesarewitch and then decide.

“That was a great performance at Deauville last time and if we choose to go to the Cesarewitch, the distance will be no problem to him at all, he will stay forever.

“He needs soft ground and the end of August is a bit early to make a firm decision about where he is going.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Tuscan Gold, who unseated his rider on his seasonal reappearance, is ante-post favourite at 10-1 with the sponsors, with Nicky Henderson’s Veiled and the Roger Charlton-trained Keys also well fancied.

“A number of the protagonists in the Betfred Ebor are all set to do battle again at Newmarket, but it’s Tuscan Gold who currently heads the market for the Cesarewitch as he’d previously looked very progressive before his luckless run at York last time out,” said Betfred spokesman George Primarolo.

Betfred Cesarewitch

Sponsors bet: 10-1 Tuscan Gold, 11-1 Veiled, 12-1 Fox Hunt, Keys, Rainforest Magic, Tactician, 14-1 Mount Athos, 16-1 Activate, Apache, Beyond, Big Occasion, Bothy, Colour Vision, Donnas Palm, Ile De Re, Petara Bay, 20-1 bar.