Wonderwall to surprise in Cesarewitch

The big Saturday handicaps are never easy but this Saturday the 34 runner Cesarewitch is damn near impossible to solve. Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper has been well backed and with Ryan Moore booked to ride is sure to go off favourite. He might well get the job done but with 33 challengers it is a double digit priced runner that I would advise backing for some value in such an open race.

Pied Piper is an obvious chance and clear favourite but very short in 34 runner race. We seek some better value and I like the inform Temporize who won tidily at the Goodwood festival. That Goodwood win came on testing ground over 2m4.5f so he is a proven stayer. The handicapper upped him 7lbs for his latest win which is fair and two runs ago he finished a head second at Ascot over two miles on soft ground.

I like that Temporize is totally unexposed over staying trips. He latest runs over two miles plus have seen major improvement and this 4yo remains unexposed. Finley Marsh takes over riding duties and should enjoy a great spin on Temporize with the more rain that falls the better carrying 8-10.

Wonderwall is a bit of a punt but I remember this horse from his bumper days. He won his first bumper at Ascot and then finished third in a listed bumper there won by Knappers Hill with Stage Star runner up. That is cracking form and Wonderwall went to the Cheltenham Festival in 2021 and ran well to finish seventh. He won a maiden hurdle over 2m5f on good to soft ground at Doncaster as well as finishing third in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Newbury in November 2022.

Wonderwall missed most of last winter and ran down the field in the county hurdle at the last Cheltenham Festival. I like that he ran well over 1m2f on the flat in July and August hitting the frame. He faded late at Chester over two miles last month but seemed to be given a tender ride with this race hopefully in mind. Wonderwall is drawn very wide but the positive is he has no weight on his back, carrying 8-2 with Georgia Dobie claiming off a further 3lbs! This national hunt horse will feel like he is running free so we hope he gets into contention and stays properly at the business end of this heritage handicap.

Dangers exist everywhere and it is wise to side with the National Hunt trainers in these staying flat races. Stamina is a requirement for horses under the care of jump trainers. With the ground gone soft at Newmarket there is more of an emphasis than normal on staying this marathon two miles and two furlongs trip.

Newmarket 2:40

0.5 point each way Temporize 9/1 Ladbrokes, Bet365 & William Hill, all 6 places.

0.5 point each way Wonderwall 33/1 Skybet 8 places else 33/1 Paddy Power, 7 places.

Past Results

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