The weights for the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket on September 29 were revealed on Wednesday with William Haggas' South African Group One winner Whisky Baron heading the list.
Whisky Baron (9st 10lb) is one of three leading contenders for Haggas alongside Alfarris and Seniority. Haggas also has Original Choice entered in the race on 9st.
Other well-known names among a 139-strong entry include Zhui Feng, successful in the 2017 Royal Hunt Cup and twice placed in the Victoria Cup, and the Brian Meehan-trained Spark Plug, now down to a handicap mark of 107, just 3lb higher than when he prevailed in this race two years ago.
David Menuisier, who saddled the beaten favourite last year in Thundering Blue, has the fast-improving Danceteria as one of his three candidates.
Danceteria has won his last three starts, all mile and a quarter handicaps on Newmarket’s July Course, most recently registering a three and three-quarter length success in the bbag-sales.de Handicap on August 11 which saw him raised 10lbs to his current mark of 103.
He's been allotted 8st 12lbs while Menuisier’s other two entries, History Writer and Dragons Voice, would both need to pick up penalties in order to make it into the main race having been given 8st 1lbs and 7st 12lbs respectively.
However, those missing the cut will have the opportunity to contest the £50,000 Shadwell Farm Handicap (Silver Cambridgeshire) over the same course and distance on Friday September 28.
Dragons Voice is also in top form, having landed a handicap at Sandown on Saturday, but History Writer could finish no better than fifth in a different race on the same Sandown card.
David Menuisier, trainer of Danceteria, History Writer and Dragons Voice, said: "Danceteria is a very versatile horse, I think that the drop back to nine furlongs would not be a problem for him. Going up 10lbs for his last win seems fair as he won quite easily and I think he is pretty good so his new mark does not scare me.
"It sounds a bit cheeky, I know, but he might turn out to be even better than Thundering Blue, and they have a similar profile in the way that they are improving, it’s just that Danceteria has got there a year earlier. Danceteria is certainly much more professional and easy to handle.
"Thundering Blue was not beaten by a lack of ability when he was sixth last year, it was just the circumstances of the race, as he was forced to race on his own in no man’s land for a long time. I think Danceteria would handle a bit of bad luck in running more easily than he did.
"But Danceteria is not a certain runner. He is also entered in a race in Ireland on September 16 and I will need to speak to his owner [Clive Washbourn] before we make a definite plan.
"It’s possible that he could run in both races, as there are 13 days between them, I wouldn’t write that off as a possibility.
"I was hoping History Writer would get in to the Cambridgeshire field by winning at Sandown at the weekend, but unfortunately he appeared not to stay, so I am scratching my head with him at the moment. Dragons Voice would need to win again to get into the race and would only run at Newmarket if the ground is ‘good to soft’ or softer."
Cambridgeshire weights in full
9-10 Whisky Baron (AUS);
9-8 Zhui Feng (IRE);
9-7 What About Carlo (FR), Dubai Horizon (IRE), Circus Couture (IRE), Spark Plug (IRE);
9-6 Pivoine (IRE), Sharja Bridge (GB), Crazy Horse (GB);
9-5 Master The World (IRE), Mitchum Swagger (GB), Mountain Hunter (USA);
9-4 Allegio (IRE), Alfarris (FR), Seniority (GB), Afaak (GB);
9-3 Titus (GB);
9-2 Wissahickon (USA), Plutonian (IRE);
9-1 Tricorn (IRE), Abe Lincoln (USA), Dark Red (IRE), Kenya (IRE);
9-0 Global Giant (GB), Poet's Society (GB), Love Dreams (IRE), Kynren (IRE), Original Choice (IRE);
8-13 Humbert (IRE), Crack On Crack On (GB), Uae Prince (IRE), Gulf of Poets (GB), Urban Aspect (GB), Mistiroc (GB), Via Via (IRE);
8-12 Chatez (IRE), Euro Nightmare (IRE), Raising Sand (GB), Zwayyan (GB), Danceteria (FR), What's The Story (GB), Ventura Knight (IRE), Via Serendipity (GB), Banditry (IRE), Very Talented (IRE), Wahash (IRE), Brendan Brackan (IRE);
8-11 Mythical Madness (GB), Third Time Lucky (IRE), Not So Sleepy (GB), Kings Gift (IRE), Greatest Journey (GB), Restorer (GB), Examiner (IRE);
8-10 Mountain Angel (IRE), Another Touch (GB), Sabador (FR);
8-9 Bless Him (IRE), Masham Star (IRE), Stylehunter (GB), Mafaaheem (IRE), Greenside (GB), Waarif (IRE), Mordin (IRE), Knife Edge (IRE);
8-8 Aasheq (IRE), Sands Chorus (GB);
8-7 Argentello (IRE), Bravery (IRE), Keyser Soze (IRE), Mountain Rescue (IRE), Daira Prince (IRE), Cote d'Azur (GB);
8-6 Markazi (FR), Battle of Marathon (USA), Escalator (GB), Dream Today (IRE), Thomas Cranmer (USA), Dawaaleeb (USA);
8-5 Aquarium (GB), C Note (IRE), War Glory (IRE), Kassar (IRE), Beringer (GB);
8-4 King's Pavilion (IRE), Aussie Valentine (IRE), Breden (IRE), Capton (GB), Leader Writer (FR), Almoreb (IRE);
8-3 Ayutthaya (IRE), Manson (GB), Racing Country (IRE), Inscribe (USA), Nicholas T (GB);
8-2 Mikmak (GB), Just Hiss (GB), Hayadh (GB), Ibraz (GB), Frontispiece (GB), Medieval (IRE), Theglasgowwarrior (GB), Team Decision (IRE);
8-1 Rock Eagle (GB), Salt Whistle Bay (IRE), History Writer (IRE);
8-0 Wafy (IRE);
7-13 Alemaratalyoum (IRE), Speed Company (IRE), Everything For You (IRE), Infrastructure (GB);
7-12 High Acclaim (USA), Brother McGonagall (GB), Roller (GB), Mr Top Hat (GB), Swift Emperor (IRE), Dragons Voice (GB);
7-11 My Target (IRE) , Blue Mist (GB), Exceeding Power (GB);
7-10 Jus Pires (USA), Highlight Reel (IRE), The Last Emperor (GB), Protected Guest (GB);
7-8 Crownthorpe (GB);
7-7 Jazeel (IRE), County Fair (GB);
7-6 Shadow Warrior (GB), Save The Bees (GB), Balgair (GB);
7-5 Escape The City (GB);
7-4 Party Fears Too (IRE), Monoxide (GB);
7-3 Sans Souci Bay (GB), Uther Pendragon (IRE);
6-13 Little Jo (GB);
6-9 Cherbourg (FR);
6-7 Boots And Spurs (GB);
6-5 Restive (IRE).
