Cayuga has form to his name which give shim a big shout in the 3.55 at Epsom today and with Oisin Murphy in the saddle for the first time makes plenty of each-way appeal at 20/1.
The gelding has just one win to his name with that success coming in a 1m 2f handicap at Lingfield last August off a mark of 73 when trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
He joined Brett Johnson after that success and has since put in a number of solid efforts to finish in the frame.
The son of Montjeu failed by just a short-head to win on his debut for his new handler on the all-weather at Lingfield back in December after 119 days on the sidelines off a mark of 81 and went on to finish a fair fourth of 8 to Duke Of Clarence two starts later at Windsor off 82.
He then put in arguably his best performance when finishing second of 8 to Ehtedaam in a class 3 contest at Newmarket off a mark of 81, and it is that effort which makes him of interest in this.
The four-year-old raced up with the pace that day and found himself short of room when holding every chance at the furlong marker before rallying inside the last to be beaten just a length.
The winner, from whom he was receiving 6lb, went on to bolt up at Kempton next time up off a mark of 95 before finishing a solid sixth of 15 to Graphic off 101 at the same venue.
The third home Nabucco has also gone on to score off 91 and finish second of 16 in a competitive handicap at Goodwood off 98, the fourth home Cactus Valley won next time up off 84, and the fifth home Haylaman has subsequently won off 87 and run well to be placed off 90.
That is strong form in the context off this contest and Cayuga now gets into this off a 1lb lower mark of 80.
That gives him every chnace at the weights in my book, especially with the highly talented Murphy in the saddle taking another 5lb off his back.
It’s also interesting that he has been given a break since disappointing in his last run at Sandown after running respectable in three contests after his run behind Ehtedaam, and if the break has freshened him up he is entitled to go very close in this from his current mark.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Cayuga (20/1 BetVictor – BOG)