Those holding ante post vouchers for Labeq in the Tote Cambridgeshire received a blow yesterday when trainer Peter Walwyn described the colt doubtful for Saturday's big handicap.
"Labeq worked yesterday and looked like a bird," said the Lambourn trainer. "But he was a bit stiff this morning and is doubtful for the Cambridgshire," he added.
The three-year-old was forced to pull out of last week's Sunday Racing Rated Stakes at Kempton, a race which was to have been his Cambridgeshire warm-up, after pulling a muscle in front of the stifle.
Meanwhile backers of Gulf Shaadi saw their prospects of getting a run for their money brighten when trainer Eric Alston gave an upbeat bulletin about his charge.
Alston's five-year-old shot into the picture for Saturday's big Newmarket handicap when winning Sunday's Mail On Sunday Final at Ascot. But the gelding cut his near fore and developed soreness around it.
Alston said yesterday: "He has a bit of swelling because he's bled inside - but he has been ridden this morning. The swelling will have to go for him to run but at the moment I'd say it was 80 per cent in favour of him making it. John Egan has been booked to ride."
Meanwhile, Rebecca Sharp, who appeared unlucky when beaten a short head by Air Express in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, figures among the 37 entries for the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, October 18th.
