MOUNT ATHOS HEADS CES FIELD

Irish raider Mount Athos heads a maximum field of 34 declared for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

The David Wachman-trained four-year-old is owned by Dr Marwan Koukash, who has a useful second string to his bow in Never Can Tell from Jamie Osborne's stable.

There were no notable withdrawals at the 48-hour final declaration stage with Ajaan, Regent Street, English Summer and Hawk Mountain the only defectors from the top 34.

Their absence has allowed in L Frank Baum, Abergavenny, Bow To No One and Tasheba to make the cut for the two and a quarter mile cavalry charge.

The main ante-post players, including Nicky Henderson's Veiled, Sir Mark Prescott's Tuscan Gold, Hughie Morrison's course and distance winner Cosimo de Medici and Dermot Weld's Rainforest Magic, have all stood their ground.

Roger Charlton looks like winning the race against time with Keys, whose participation had been in doubt after he scoped dirty last week.

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