SUPPORTERS of leading Tote Cesarewitch contender Canon Can were given a huge boost yesterday when it was revealed that Pat Eddery begged to ride the gelding on Saturday.
Unfortunately the champion elect's weight rules him out of riding the horse at present - and connections have booked Jimmy Quinn.
But Eddery's interest is highly significant as he was aboard Kristal's Paradise when that horse was thumped by Canon Can at Pontefract last month.
The handicapper was unable to take that race into account when framing the weights for the £50,000-added Newmarket marathon - and a literal reading of that form would have seen Canon Can carrying at least 14lb more.
He has 7st 9lb in the long handicap (the minimum weight carried in the race is 7st 10lb) and only in the unlikely event of several top weights dropping out would Eddery be able to partner the horse.
At present Eddery, whose minimum weight is around 8st 5lb, is pencilled in for the Ian Balding-trained Blaze Away.
But Gray said: "If Pat only had to put up a few pounds overweight he would ride but as it stands we've provisionally booked Jimmy Quinn."
Canon Can dominated the early betting exchanges for the Cesarewitch and the sponsors yesterday cut his price to 7 to 2 (from 4).
Meanwhile, Minds Music, in the frame without getting his head in front in four outings this season, can enjoy a change of luck in the King's Regiment Cup Conditions Stakes at Haydock today.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)