Racing News and preview: Orpington, the current ante-post favourite for Saturday's Totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket, is doubtful to make the starting gate.
Dermot Weld yesterday described the three-year-old as "unlikely" to make the journey to Newmarket for one of the biggest betting races of the year.
"I haven't decided just yet but at the moment I would say he is unlikely to run. It's possibly a little soon after his last race and he would have to travel again which would not be ideal," said Weld.
Orpington ran 11 days ago and finished fourth in the Group Two Prix de Chaudenay at Longchamp on the first day of the Arc de Triomphe weekend.
"I was delighted with that effort but it's just a bit quick to think about travelling him again," added Weld who won the 18 furlong Cesarewitch in 1992 when the Walter Swinburn-ridden Vintage Crop landed a monster gamble.
Orpington is as low as 13 to 2 favourite with Paddy Power for the Newmarket marathon, after gradually tumbling down through the betting, but ante-post punters look to have lost out.
No decision on future plans for the Irish Derby winner, Grey Swallow, has been taken but his absence from Saturday's Emirates Champion Stakes leaves Mingun as the only Irish companion for the ante-post favourite Azamour in the 10-furlong Group One.
Mingun has had just the one run this season but Aidan O'Brien indicated yesterday the well-bred colt will take his chance in the Champion. The Ballydoyle trainer will also be represented in the major juvenile races at Newmarket. "Scandinavia is in the Dewhurst along with Oratorio but we will probably only run Oratorio. We have two in the fillies race as well (Rockfel Stakes) but the plan is to probably only run Cherokee," O'Brien said yesterday.
The champion trainer is also pondering his options for the Breeders' Cup at the end of the month where Yesterday (Fillies & Mares) and Antonius Pius (Mile) could be joined by the disqualified Arlington Million "winner" Powerscourt.
The four-year-old is back in full training after an injury that stopped him running in the Arc and will be given entries in both the Turf race and the Classic on dirt at Lone Star Park.
"Turf is what he has been running on so obviously he would look to have a much bigger chance in that. But nothing has been decided. So far he is doing good, doing his work and staying sound," O'Brien reported.
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning hit the Group One mark at Longchamp with Alexander Goldrun in the Prix de l'Opera and a tilt at the Dewhurst at the weekend hasn't been ruled out for the Railway Stakes winner Democratic Deficit.
As well as Azamour in the Champion, the Aga Khan-John Oxx-Michael Kinane team are also considering an attempt on the Group Two Challenge Stakes with the Cork Listed winner Caradak.
It might be an all-flat card at Navan this afternoon but competing with the big battalions from Ballydoyle, Rosewell and Currabeg are some names that give the meeting a distinctly jumping feel.
The 2003 Cheltenham winner, Back In Front, a 16 to 1 shot for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle despite not having run in almost 11 months, gets his winter campaign under way in the two-mile maiden where his opposition includes the Swinton Hurdle winner Macs Joy as well as Ground Ball and Sweet Kiln.
Hardy Eustace won this race 12 months ago on route to the hurdling championship and Jamie Spencer is an eye-catching booking for Back In Front. The Tipperary bumper winner Sweet Kiln, however, looks to hold the fitness edge.
The subsequent Galtres Stakes winner Tarakala won here last year in the mile fillies maiden where some exceptionally well bred fillies can be led home this time by Kitty O'Shea.
The Ballydoyle team's Mullins Bay, who beat nothing on his Curragh debut but looked impressive, can get the beter of Pepperwoood in the nine furlong race.
