behind, headway over 7f out, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 6f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, not reach winner
behind, switched left and headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven out
mid-division, never nearer
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
behind, headway over 4f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
behind, ridden and headway over 3f out,weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
behind, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
never better than mid-division
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on, not reached leaders
always behind
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on,never nearer
in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
prominent and raced alone for 8f, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
never better than mid-division
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
towards rear, headway to lead over 6f out, ridden and headed over 5f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
behind, headway over 6f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 6f out, weakened quickly
behind, headway over 4f out, not clear run over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on, nearest at finish
A maximum field of 36 are set to go to post for the Cesarewitch, one of the great handicaps in the calendar. There will be many differing views on the make and shape of the outcome and, for what it's worth, here's ours. We take Shabernak and Direct Bearing against the field. You are going to need a horse that goes on quick going, stays two miles extremely well and, if it has a touch of class, all the better. Shabernak gets ticks in the right boxes and is well handicapped based on revised official ratings for his win at Doncaster recently. Okay, he has a big weight to carry but, to offset this possible negative, Kieren Fallon has been booked. Direct Bearing was second in this race last year and has been aimed at it for quite some time by Dermot Weld. That adds up to a big positive in our eyes. There are, of course, many others in with realistic chance, including the Martin Pipe inmates Sindapour (a half-brother to Sinndar and already a winner at Royal Ascot) and Miss Fara (who won this race last year). All of Amanda Perrett's three runners have to be fancied, with Ten Carat and Big Moment taking the eye among them, and Andrew Balding's Distant Prospect, fourth last year after winning in 2001, is another with good claims. Inglis Drever and Numitas will have been primed to go well as Sir Mark Prescott bids to add the Ces to his Cambridgeshire success - and bag a huge bonus in the process. The quirky Landing Light is capable of running a big race, but he goes particularly well for Kieren Fallon. Sun Bird and Unleash know what it takes to land a big handicap, while the lightly raced Romany Prince could improve at this trip. Overall, then, considering that he is racing from a mark that is just three pounds higher than in last year's contest, Direct Bearing gets our overall vote.
