Multi Backed To Be Champion For Cecil

Henry Cecil's Multidimensional has been the horse for money with punters ahead of Saturday's Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket as the master trainer's hand was reduced to one.

Cecil had been planning to run both his progressive colt and the filly Passage Of Time, but the latter will revert to her original target of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Multidimensional was supported into 5-1 from 6s with Coral and to 9-2 from 5s with William Hill.

The four-year-old was a Group Two winner in France last season but suffered a number of setbacks until he made a pleasing return from injury at Newbury a month ago.

'I think there's a feeling if Henry is relying on the one horse, then that's good enough for punters,' said Coral's David Stevens.

'It was all looking a bit uncertain whether Passage Of Time would actually going for the Champion or the Breeders' Cup and they have made a decision.

'Henry is of course a very popular trainer with punters and they always like seeing him back in the big time.'

Passage Of Time, the Musidora Stakes winner who has also been sidelined for much of the season, will now head for Monmouth Park.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, told the Daily Mail: 'We wanted to see what the Breeders' Cup was looking like and she was entered in it (on Monday evening).

'It is a bit of a turnaround but the Champion Stakes looks very competitive.

'We'll use an American jockey as Richard Hughes can't do 8st 6lb.'

The strong favourite remains Sir Michael Stoute's Eclipse winner Notnowcato ahead of Godolphin's supplemented Creachadoir, but another not to be discounted is Literato, who is on course to make his first British start.

The three-year-old has won three of his five starts for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget this term, as well as finishing a close second to Lawman in the French Derby.

Literato claimed a Group Two at Deauville and a Longchamp Group Three on his last two outings and Rouget is looking forward to a trip to Newmarket.

'He is an intended runner. Everything has gone to plan since his last run,' said the French handler.

'I want to have a good trip and we will see. I wouldn't want the ground too firm but I would be happy on anything else.'

Emirates Airline Champion Stakes:

William Hill bet: 11-4 Notnowcato, 9-2 Creachadoir, 9-2 Multidimensional, 11-2 Eagle Mountain, 6-1 Literato, 8-1 Doctor Dino, 12-1 Mount Nelson, 14-1 Maraahel, 28-1 Speciosa, 33-1 bar.

Coral bet: 9-4 Notnowcato, 9-2 Creachadoir, 5-1 Literato, Multidimensional, 13-2 Eagle Mountain, 10-1 Doctor Dino, 12-1 Maraahel, Mount Nelson, 25-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport