PATRICK HASLAM has prepared Positive Profile (2.50) specifically for this afternoon's £125,000 Tote Cesarewitch and at odds of 20-1 or better rates a rattling good each-way bet in the two-and-a-quarter-mile lung-bursting marathon.

"Immediately after Positive Profile finished eighth in the Ces last year his owner instructed me to make the 2003 race his goal," reported Patrick.

"Twelve months ago he had too many horses around him and could never get into any sort of rhythm early on. But he was staying on strongly over the last half-mile and I'd say he would probably have finished fourth given the run of the race," added the Middleham handler.

A thorough stayer, Haslam gave Positive Profile a two-month holiday after finishing second to Knavesmire Omen at Glorious Goodwood, a break which clearly did him no harm whatsoever since he bounced back to score in style at York a fortnight ago.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the horse and winning at York meant he went up sufficiently in the ratings to allow us not to have to use an apprentice and book Royston French," explained Haslam.

"Royston knows the horse well, having won on him three times, and is one of the best and strongest lightweight jockeys around.

Positive Profile has been accused in the past of being a shrinking violet when put under pressure, however Patrick takes issue with that opinion. "The horse has an awkward head carriage which sometimes gives a bad impression, but I'd say he was genuine enough and provided he gets into the groove early on, I'm hoping for a big run," he said.

The dangers to Positive Profile are too numerous to mention, however one man with more at stake than most is Sir Mark Prescott, bidding to scoop the £100,000 bonus for completing the Cambridgeshire/Cesarewitch autumn double.

Prescott's Chivalry got half the job done a fortnight ago and now he goes in three-pronged with Inglis Drever, Numitas, and No Refuge, all of whom are leading contenders.

Of the talented trio, No Refuge, a vastly-improved stayer and the pick of stable jockey George Duffield would be my choice to chase home Positive Profile.

As far as prize money goes, nothing can match the £400,000 up for grabs in the Group 1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

The hero of the hour in July's King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, Alamshar, has been installed as the best-priced 9-4 ante-post favourite, and the Aga Khan's high-class colt has, according to his regular rider, Johnny Murtagh, " been showing a lot of class in his work".

Alamshar, who got within two lengths of High Chaparral and Falbrav in the Irish equivalent, is a worthy market leader and master trainer John Oxx would not be bothering to cross the Irish Sea unless he thought his horse had a first-class chance.

One-time leading 2000 Guineas fancy Muqbil (5.15) has palpably failed to live up to those heady aspirations but I'm convinced he's a decent tool.

A funereal early pace didn't suited Muqbil when he could only finish third of four at the course on his latest start. The only benefit of that lacklustre performance might be a longer-than-expected starting price in the Group 3 Darley Stakes, a race well within his compass provided the leaders set off at a sensible gallop instead of dawdling for the first half-mile.

If you're just about skint come the closing Tote Big Screen Handicap at Catterick, Northern Games (5.25) might be the one to punt for.

Kevin Ryan's gelding ran an absolute belter when chasing home Its Ecco Boy over six furlongs at Nottingham on September 30.

The application of first-time cheekpieces seemed to bring about a revival in Northern Games' fortunes at the Midlands track, and provided they have the same favourable effect over today's seven-furlong trip all could end happily ever after!

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