Finalmente Primed For Totesport Cesarewitch Challenge

Excellent Art 50-50 For Darley Dewhurst

Improving stayer Finalmente has been given the green light to contest the #150,000 totesport Cesarewitch, run over two miles and two furlongs at Newmarket on Champions´ Day, Saturday, October 14.

The four-year-old son of Kahyasi has landed three of his five starts this term and followed a luckless run in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle by capturing a valuable two-mile handicap on the Polytrack at Lingfield on July 15, defeating Elusive Dream by a neck.

'Finalmente is a definite runner in the totesport Cesarewitch - it´s been his aim for some time,' revealed Simon Callaghan, son of trainer Neville, this morning.

'He won a decent race at Lingfield over two miles last time and only got up in the final strides, so I think the additional distance and easier surface will suit him.

'We have given him a break since his last race, which was always the plan, and he has done very well in the interim. We´re very pleased with him.'

Despite the prospect of a welter burden in the totesport Cesarewitch - Finalmente has 9st 8lb moment - Callaghan is confident of a big run from his father´s charge, currently rated a 14/1 chance by the sponsors for the prestigious handicap.

'He´s rated 101, so he´s at the top end of the weights, but he´s a very progressive horse. It´s obviously a very competitive race but he would have a live each-way chance.

'Finalmente is an improving stayer on the upgrade, and in the future we hope that he could be Listed or even Group class. He will run very well in the totesport Cesarewitch.'

The stable could also be represented on Champions´ Day by exciting two-year-old Excellent Art, who is a possible starter in the #250,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs.

After coming third to Holy Roman Emperor and Dutch Art on his previous two outings, the Pivotal colt got his head in front with a battling short-head victory over Doctor Brown in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury on September 16.

Callaghan commented: 'Excellent Art has come out of his last race at Newbury very well indeed and we are very pleased with him, although he is not a definite runner. We are certainly considering the Darley Dewhurst Stakes though, and I would say that it is 50-50 whether or not he runs at this stage.

'His form with the likes of Dutch Art and Holy Roman Emperor is standing up very well. He is a very good horse and we have been keen to step him up to seven furlongs for a while now - there are no doubts about him staying the trip.

'He´s very versatile as regards the ground, having won on good to firm and heavy going, although he wouldn´t want a very fast surface. Being a son of Pivotal, I think good or slightly easier ground would suit him best.

'We´ll consider the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next season but we´ll just have to see how he is working in the spring. The German and French Guineas could also be possible targets.'

The totesport Cesarewitch and Darley Dewhurst Stakes are two of seven races on a superb programme that makes up Champions´ Day at Newmarket on Saturday, October 14, also featuring the #350,000 Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Group Two action comes with the seven-furlong VC Bet Challenge Stakes and the ´In The Pink´ Rockfel Stakes over seven furlongs for two-year-old fillies, while the Group Three David Wilson Homes Jockey Club Cup over two miles and Group Three Unicorn Asset Management Darley Stakes over nine furlongs complete the card.