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Sariska now looking to overcome Fame and Glory.

As we intimated in Sunday's news section, it looks like dual Oakes winner Sariska will now have to face Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory in Saturday's Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes at Newmarket. The ballydoyle top rated three year old has been switched from an attempt on the Breeders Cup to the Newmarket Group 1 objective, and he figures amongst the seventeen horses still declared for Saturday's race at today's five day stage.

Other notable entries include; the Sir Michael Stoute pair of Doctor Fremantle and Crystal Capella, John Gosden's recent Prix Dollar winner Pipe Dreamer, and french raiders Never On Sunday, and Alpine Rose.

However, depending on the conditions, two outsiders to consider are - Lockinge Stakes winner Virtual (if the ground becomes soft), and Marcus Tregonning's very progressive Mawatheeq, the latter having been supplemented for Saturday's race at a cost of £30,000 (if the going is good or better).

Dewhurst looks certain to provide winter Guineas favourite.

At today's five day confirmation stage, 23 juveniles remain entered for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, and barring a major upset, the race looks certain to provide the winter anti post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas.

Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum relies entirely on Prix Morny winner Arcarno, while Jim Bolger goes for an unprecedented fourth straight win in the race with three entries - the most noticeable being National Stakes runner up Chabal.

Aidan O'Brien has six remaining entries, with the most intriguing being the highly touted Steinbeck. Meanwhile, Clive Cox gives Xtension his first run since powering home in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and despite disappointing in his last run, if the going for Saturday's race becomes soft, then Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin cannot be ignored.

Although Vale of York is entered in Saturday's race, his win in Milan yesterday would suggest the Godolphin challenge will probably come from Doncaster winner Poet's Voice and Longchamp third Buzzword.

Blue Bajan heads thirty four Cesarewitch acceptors.

Following today's five day confirmation stage, 34 horses have stood their ground in Saturday's Totesport Cesarewitch Handicap. While the weights are headed by leading hurdler Blue Bajan, the interest for anti post punters revolves around the fact all the market leaders have stood their ground.

Doncaster Cup runner up Darley Sun gets in off a light weight, and is accompanied in the entries by; Electrolyser, Swingkeel, Bahrain Storm, Yes Mr President and Alanbrook.

If the full quota of fancied horses stand their ground come Thursday, the second leg of the Autumn Double could become one of the best betting heats of the entire year.

Harchibald and Sizing Europe could clash at Punchestown.

Although he might have to take on Henry de Bromhead's former top hurdler Sizing Europe, Noel Meade is leaning towards allowing Harchibald to have his first outing over bigger obstacles in Thursday's Grade 3 Buckhouse Novice Chase at Punchestown. Discussing his ten year old, Meade said,

"I know he is ten years old, but he has schoolled unexpectedly well over fences, and although I am wary about taking on Henry's horse in his first novice chase, the only way we are going to find out if Harchibald will have a future over fences is to put him in against some useful opposition."

Albertas Run could start at Wetherby.

It would be fair to say, the 2008 Royal and Sun Alliance Chase winner Albertas Run only put in one good performance in the 2008 - 2009 national hunt season, (when finishing second to Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day 2008).

However, based on his current work on his home gallops, trainer jonjo O'Neill believes his charge is suggesting a return to former glories may be possible this coming season, and to test his opinion, the handler looks likely to give Albertas Run his seasonal start in Wetherby's premier Charlie Hall Chase on the last day of October.

Rookie trainer hoping for Luisant winning finale.

James Nash only took out his training license last December, and after trying one of his original recruits- Luisant - over hurdles, he reverted his charge to sprinting with impressive results, and after nearly upsetting the John Oxx trained Rayeni in Sunday's Waterford Testimonial Stakes at the Curragh, the handler intends to give Luisant a final chance to win a Listed race before the end of the current flat season. In an interview, Nash commented,

"We intend to give Luisant a final outing this season, and after his Curragh performance, I am very hopeful he can end his season on a high note by collecting in the Listed five furlong race at Dundalk on Friday week."

Tote sale to help finance government debts.

Earlier in the year, the British Government abandoned the idea of selling the Tote due to their belief they would not obtain a good price in a recessionary marketplace, but suddenly, the size of their budget deficit has negated prudence, and Gordon Brown's government have entered into an obvious U turn as they now intend to sell the Tote along with other public assets in what amounts to a 'fire sale'.

We are among many voices this morning suggesting this projected sale is badly timed, and it will almost certainly mean bad news for the Tote and horseracing in general. Potential buyers knowing the British Government are fairly desperate, will offer 'knock down' bids, and if, as we suspect, foreign buyers head the list of potential purchasers, it could endanger jobs at the Tote's british based headquarters, and it could also mean in the long term a reduction in contributions to British racing.

Troytown and Paddy Power options for Treacle.

After putting in a master class of jumping which saw him overcome Dazzling George and Paddy Pub in the latter stages of the three mile ladbrokes.com Munster National at Limerick, the Tom Taaffe trained Treacle will now be aimed at either the Troytown or Paddy Power Chases later this year, and if all goes well, the progressive chaser will then undertake a spring campaign in high profile races on both sides of the Irish Sea. Speaking after yesterday's victory, Taaffe said,

"He has done well to come back from a major injury which kept him off the track for eighteen months, and I thought Paul Townend gave him a super ride." Taaffe added,

"He is full of heart, and is very progressive, and I would hope he will go on to good things."

No future plans for Let Yourself Go.

After training Let Yourself Go to his third consecutive win when he took victory in Sunday's Grade 3 Price Waterhouse Coopers Chase at Limerick, former jockey Adrian Maguire commented,

"Naturally, I am delighted he has continued his winning streak, but it was disappointing british raider Cornas fell at the fifth, as I would have liked to have seen how our fella fared against him in the closing stages. " Maguire went on to say,

"We have no set plans for him at present. We will let the dust settle, and then have a look for suitable options towards the beginning of next month."

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