Alleluia heads Cesarewitch field

Handicap snip Alleluia heads the 43 entries confirmed today for the Tote Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

Sir Mark Prescott`s improving filly also holds an engagement in the Group Three Jockey Club Cup earlier on the Champions` Day card and a decision on which race she will run in will be left up to her owners (Sonia Rogers and Kirsten Rausing).

Alleluia won the Group Three GNER Doncaster Cup last time but races off her old mark plus a 7lb penalty in the Cesarewitch.

She has been raised 26lb by the official assessor for her Doncaster win which means she is 19lb well in for the #120,000 handicap.

Alleluia is currently 2-1 with a run with the sponsors for the Cesarewitch and Prescott reported: 'The animal is fine and she worked fine on Friday and as long as it isn`t a bog she`ll pole up at Newmarket in one or the other.'

Brother Joe tops the weights on 9st 10lb with Ascot Stakes winner Cover Up next on 9st 8lb.

Last year`s winner Heros Fatal is one of six entries for champion jumps trainer Martin Pipe. The others in the race are Ravenswood, St Helensfield, Cyrian, Tarxien and Guard Duty.

Gary Carter, who rode Heros Fatal 12 months ago, will once again be in the saddle on Saturday.

Wave Of Optimism, beaten three-quarters of a length by Heros Fatal in the two and a quarter mile test in 2000, is set to renew rivalry at Headquarters.

The Lydia Pearce-trained six-year-old will shoulder a 5lb penalty for a recent success in a class C handicap gained on soft going at Ascot.

'The rain played into our hands at Ascot and I`m going to do a rain dance this week. I`m really praying for rain and I hope it slings it down,' Mrs Pearce said.

Philip Robinson, who was on board at Ascot, will take the mount again.