Ermyn Lodge looks a big price for Cesarewitch if ground stays fast
Published:If the rain stays away for another week, then Ermyn Lodge could certainly represent cracking each-way value for the upcoming Cesarewitch at Newmarket.
Ermyn Lodge is currently 25/1 in the Newmarket odds to win the Cesarewitch and based on his performance when chasing home Veiled at Royal Ascot in June, this looks a big price.
Veiled’s victory in the Ascot Stakes is the primary reason why he is the 10/1 favourite to win the Cesarewitch, but there are reasons to suggest that Ermyn Lodge can reverse the form.
The big difference is that Ermyn Lodge will be 4lb better off at Newmarket, which could account for a lot over the distance of 2m2f.
Meanwhile, with Ermyn Lodge set to appreciate the Newmarket ground, trainer Pat Phelan is confident his horse can run a big race.
Phelan said: “He loves good, fast ground and that would be a big factor to him running well at Newmarket. It’s no secret that he will probably pop out, sit handy and try to make all of the running if he can. It’s a big ask, but that is the way he has always won his races.
“There’s not an ungenuine bone in his body but he takes a little bit of stoking up and the visor helps him concentrate.”
The fact that Ermyn Lodge has been trained with the Cesarewitch in mind all year is another boost for his chances as it is certainly no afterthought, while there is no danger of burn out as he has been relatively light of racing this campaign.
There are still 72 horses remaining in the Cesarewitch field after the latest declaration stage, but with some of the market leaders still at risk of losing their spot, Ermyn Lodger is an almost definite runner and one of the better options for an ante-post bet.
