Punters Hoping To Be Way Ahead

Ashkal Way has been the subject of a major gamble with the sponsors for the totesport Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Brian Ellison-trained gelding is now 6-1 clear favourite after being 9-1 on Wednesday and 8-1 joint-favourite with Pedrillo early on Thurday.

The three-year-old, drawn 15 and the mount of Kieren Fallon, was only given the go-ahead following a crucial midweek work-out with two stable companions.

His participation in the valuable nine-furlong handicap had been in doubt after he bruised a joint at Newbury earlier this month.

Totesport spokesman Damian Walker said: 'We went 8-1 about Ashkal Way after the 48-hour declarations but were knocked over and are now 6-1.

'Ashkal Way is our worst loser in the race with Kew Green, Realism and Blue Monday also in the red column.'

A maximum field of 30 horses, plus two reserves, were declared for the first leg of the autumn double, including last year´s winner Spanish Don.

He sprang one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Cambridgeshire when winning at 100-1.

David Elsworth´s charge, who came home by neck from Take A Bow when drawn three last season, will be in stall 23 this time and is 20-1 with the sponsors for a repeat success.

He carried 8st 7lb last season but will have 10lb to carry this time.

Top weight of 9st 10lb will be carried by Momtic, trained by William Jarvis, who is drawn 18.

Sir Mark Prescott´s Pedrillo, who will be ridden by Jean-Pierre Guillambert, is drawn close to Ashkal Way in stall 13.

Of the other major contenders, Roger Charlton´s Blue Monday is drawn high in stall 28, while Paul Webber´s Kew Green will be on the other side of the track in stall two.

However, several leading fancies missed the cut. Among them were Sir Michael Stoute´s Rohanni, who had been as low as 11-1, and 14-1 shots Unshakable and Torinmoor.

Real Quality and Mutawaffer are the two reserves, while the first horse to be eliminated was the Mark Johnston-trained Royal Island.

Johnston´s Sound Breeze also missed out but the Middleham trainer will be represented by Crosspeace and Nero´s Return.

Totesport have announced they will be paying out on the first five places.

(C) PA Sport