KOUKASH KEEN ON CES CHALLENGE

Prominent owner Dr Marwan Koukash is likely to have three runners in Saturday's Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Top weight Mount Athos, trained by David Wachman in Ireland, Jamie Osborne's Never Can Tell and the Mark Johnston-trained English Summer are all set to carry his colours in the feature race.

Johnston also has Montparnasse engaged but at this stage he looks unlikely to make the final cut of 34.

"Mount Athos ran well at York and he is in much better shape now after a nice break," said Koukash.

"He had a small issue at York and the ground was a bit dead for him. Hopefully, the ground at Newmarket will suit him, plus stepping him up to two miles two furlongs is what we have always wanted.

"If you look at his run at Chester in the Chester Cup, he was drawn in the car park and in the last furlong he came flying from the back. Another hundred yards or so and he could have won it.

"But the horse that no one seems to want to talk about is Never Can Tell.

"She is possibly the best value in the Cesarewitch and Frankie Dettori is on her. She will go very close and is a huge price at 25-1.

"She is lightly-raced, there is a lot more to come from her and she has been in fantastic form at home.

"Jamie Osborne keeps telling me that she is in fantastic form and I think she will run a very big race.

"English Summer is very likely to go there but I don't think Montparnasse will get in so I will settle for the three runners.

"English Summer is another Montjeu from a good family. It looks like I will have three nice horses in the race and I am looking forward to the weekend."

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