David Ord on why Derevo has to be the bet in the bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket

The initial remit was to draw up a bet365 Cambridgeshire shortlist - you know the sort of the thing. A pool of horses from which your final selection will be made by the weekend.

But this year I can't.

It's not because of a lack of options - as you'd expect there are plenty. Sinjaari and Tempus have been found in the market but so they should be - leading players both.

Then there's Top Rank who with a rating of 91 was set to miss out on his spring target, the Lincoln, before lockdown struck. He's now 106 after wins at Thirsk and Haydock (in a Group Three) and a placed effort in the Clipper Logistics at York. He hasn't stopped improving yet either.

Montatham is a strong-travelling serial winner who will be much happier back in the white-hot heat of a heritage handicap compared to the tactical Listed race at Sandown which he encountered last time.

Bell Rock is on the same mark as his good runs in the Hunt Cup and at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Ilaraab is on a roll and it doesn't look like stopping any time soon, this test screams Sir Busker, Certain Lad is no forlorn hope despite top weight and Fifth Position has been knocking on the door in similar races of late.

But none of them are DEREVO.

Now confession time. He's quickly developed into my 2020 cliff horse but all could be saved on Saturday. There's still time. And plenty of hope.

That's despite a winless run that now stretches to five races, since a fluent success on the Newcastle Tapeta track last July.

He's only four pounds higher on Saturday, strongly suggesting he hasn't scaled the heights since. And even I, one of his strongest defenders, have to accept that.

But there have been extenuating circumstances.

Firstly he lulled connections into thinking he was a mile-and-a-half horse, an experiment which was shelved after an eyecatching reappearance over the trip at Doncaster in June. Sent off a strong 11/8 favourite, he travelled like the winner until the petrol tank emptied with a furlong to run at Town Moor.

Fear not, we'd get the money back next time. But we didn't. For again the gods weren't smiling. Drawn 18 of 18 at Goodwood he used up plenty of gas to get across from his beautiful view of the Sussex Downs and into a good racing position before some rivals had even gathered breath.

He looked a big threat to Maydanny going to the furlong pole only to tire close home. A better draw and we'll get it back next time.

We didn't. The worry ahead of the Sky Bet Handicap on the final day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival was the rain. It arrived mid-afternoon and by the time they went to post the ground seemed a little slower than the official good to soft.

But as it turned out, traffic problems - both at the start and then two furlongs out when Derevo tried to make his move - were bigger issues. He wasn't persevered with. At least by his rider.

So we went in again at the St Leger meeting where, with Richard Kingscote in the saddle, salvation was to come at last in the Each-Way Extra at bet365 Handicap. It didn't - but this was his most eyecatching performance to date.

He travelled like the best handicapped horse in the race for at least eight-and-a-half, maybe nine furlongs of the contest. Sauntering to the front, he looked to have put the race to bed when going clear after two two pole only be to run down by a stronger stayer and more patiently-ridden rival in Straits Of Hormuz.

But we go again on Saturday. Because a strongly-run nine furlongs is going to suit Derevo down to the ground. A more patient ride will suit Derevo down to the ground and a mark of 95 continues to underestimate his talents.

He's 16/1 as I write which makes plenty of appeal although it's also in the back of the mind that the bookmakers will be playing 'think of a number' when it comes to paying extra places on Saturday morning.

If all goes well and he lines up he'll be shorter by then and is the only horse to make my shortlist.

It's been a year of what ifs with the son of Dansili and I already have a punchy Pale Ale ready to raise in his direction when the cards finally drop his way on Saturday.

Posted at 1610 BST on 21/09/20