Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Stakes

Heritage Handicap,
Newmarket 15:35
£200,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus,
2m 2f, Class 2   
Saturday 14th October 2023

FormRatings

1 The Shunter 14/1
2 Pied Piper 13/2
3 Tashkhan 25/1
4 Bashful Boy 100/1
31 ran NR: Aztec Empire, Pons Aelius, Yorkindness
Distances: ¾l, hd, 2½l Time: 3m 52.64s (slow by 4.14s)

Trained by Emmet Mullins, the 10-year-old The Shunter is better known for his accomplishments in hurdle races, having achieved victory at the Cheltenham Festival and secured placements at the Grade One level in novice chase events.

For this flat race, The Shunter joined forces with jockey James Doyle in the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest, which offered a substantial prize of over £103,000 to the winner. Doyle adopted a patient approach in the early stages, stealthily advancing before surging to the front with just two furlongs remaining.

Despite the persistent presence of top-weight Tashkhan, who had been prominently positioned throughout the race and displayed a strong determination to challenge The Shunter in the final stretch, the old campaigner held on. Additionally, Pied Piper, another more accustomed to National Hunt events, made a late bid for glory as they approached the finish line.

Nevertheless, The Shunter displayed great resilience, ultimately prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Pied Piper, with Tashkhan finishing a head behind in third place. The 100-1 outsider, Bashful Boy, managed to secure the fourth spot for David Pipe.

BetGoodwiin

Mullins admitted this race had been the plan for almost a year, with future plans yet to be decided.

He said: “It was a brilliant performance from horse and rider. I’d say James didn’t know what to make of the instructions going out as I said the horse has probably got more ignorance than ability, but he’ll keep pulling it out and keep fighting.

“It’s a bit surreal it’s come off. This race has probably been on the radar since he finished fourth in the November Handicap in Naas last year. We always thought there could be a big pot in him on the Flat and patience has paid off.

“He’s been in great order at home and he’s very tough, which he has shown down through the years.

“All options are open again. He was entered in last year’s Grand National and we scratched him at the 11th hour, but everything is an option.”

SureWIn

Cesarewitch Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
£200,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 2
31 ran
Going: Soft

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    The Shunter 10 9-1 Emmet Mullins James Doyle 14/1
2 (22) ¾ Pied Piper 5 9-3 Gordon Elliott Ryan Moore 13/2
3 (15) hd Tashkhan 5 10-2 4ex Brian Ellison Ben Robinson 25/1
4 (8) 2½ Bashful Boy 7 8-7 David Pipe Aiden Brookes 100/1
5 (36) 1¾ Sheishybrid 5 8-5 Noel Meade Danny Sheehy 14/1
6 (18) 1½ Jesse Evans 7 9-2 Noel Meade Oisin Orr 10/1
7 (24) 1¼ Not So Sleepy 11 9-9 4ex Hughie Morrison Tom Marquand 25/1
8 (27) ½ Typewriter 4 9-0 Andrew Balding Callum Hutchinson 50/1
9 (25) 1¼ Geremia 5 8-5 Jim Goldie Alex Jary 33/1
10 (32) 3¼ Mr Escobar 5 8-2 W P Mullins Siobhan Rutledge 40/1
11 (30) ½ Lot Of Joy 5 9-2 W P Mullins William Buick 6/1F
12 (14) hd The Grand Visir 9 9-0 Ian Williams Paddy Bradley 50/1
13 (6) 1½ Tritonic 6 9-7 Alan King Rossa Ryan 28/1
14 (28) ¾ Ocean Wind 7 9-9 Roger Teal Sean Levey 50/1
15 (13) 1½ Zoffee 7 9-0 Hugo Palmer Robert Havlin 50/1
16 (7) 2¾ Grand Providence 3 8-2 4ex Andrew Balding Hayley Turner 11/1
17 (4) 2¼ Zenon 9 8-6 W P Mullins Saffie Osborne 50/1
18 (20) nk Emiyn 6 8-13 Declan Carroll Zak Wheatley 40/1
19 (35) 1¾ Wonderwall 7 8-2 Richard Spencer Georgia Dobie 33/1
20 (29) 1¼ Blazeon Five 5 8-8 Roger Teal Trevor Whelan 33/1
21 (11) ¾ Land Of Winter 7 8-5 Rae Guest Aidan Keeley 100/1
22 (12) nk Vino Victrix 5 8-11 Hughie Morrison Benoit De La Sayette 16/1
23 (33) nk The Very Man 9 9-7 Mrs John Harrington Kevin Stott 28/1
24 (31) ½ Jackfinbar 8 9-12 W P Mullins Rachael Blackmore 33/1
25 (34) 10 Wordsworth 5 9-12 David Pipe Christian Howarth 50/1
26 (1) 2¼ Goshen 7 8-9 Gary Moore Rhys Clutterbuck 8/1
27 (21) 1¾ Golden Shot 4 8-8 Sir Mark Prescott Bt Luke Morris 12/1
28 (10) 1¼ Temporize 4 8-10 Syd Hosie Finley Marsh 10/1
29 (9) ½ Motazzen 5 8-2 4ex George Baker Jimmy Quinn 66/1
30 (16) 9 M C Muldoon 8 9-3 W P Mullins Daniel Tudhope 66/1
31 (23) 43 Law Of The Sea 5 8-12 Ian Williams Jim Crowley 66/1
NR 16 (19) Aztec Empire 4 9-0 Andrew Balding NON RUNNER
NR 29 (17) Yorkindness 4 8-4 7ex Charlie Johnston NON RUNNER
NR 30 (5) Pons Aelius 4 8-2 Charlie Johnston NON RUNNER

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