Ante-post favourite Pledgeofallegiance ruled out of Cesarewitch through injury in blow for Sir Mark Prescott

Pledgeofallegiance, the ante-post favourite for next month’s Club Godolphin Cesarewitch at Newmarket, will miss the race having picked up an injury during his preparation.

Trained by Sir Mark Prescott for Victorious Racing, Pledgeofallegiance was bidding to provide Prescott with his first winner in the Cesarewitch and headed the market at 8-1 for the 2m2f handicap after his win in the Ascot Stakes in June.

That success was Prescott’s first at Royal Ascot for 28 years, with his previous victory at the meeting coming when Pivotal landed the King’s Stand Stakes in 1996.

Speaking on Sunday, Prescott said: “Given my record in the Cesarewitch, you will not be surprised to hear that Plegeofallegiance picked up an injury on Friday and will not be able to run.”

Pledgeofallegiance is the second leading contender to be ruled out of the Cesarewitch this week, with trainer Willie Mullins stating that Ebor fifth Hipop De Loire would not head to Newmarket having also met with a setback.

In the absence of Pledgeofallegiance and Hipop De Loire, the market is likely to be headed by the Mullins-trained Belloccio, who was an impressive winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot for owners Thurloe Thoroughbreds.

Five of the last six winners of the Cesarewitch have been trained in Ireland, with The Shunter taking the prize last year for trainer Emmet Mullins and owner JP McManus.

Club Godolphin Cesarewitch (Newmarket, October 12)

Coral: 8 Belloccio, Jacovec Cavern, 10 Sixandahalf, 12 Extensio, 14 Divine Comedy, Premiere Ligne, Warmonger, 16 bar

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