Russian Music to carry top weight

Russian Music will carry top weight in Saturday's Tote Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket. Gay Kelleway's four-year-old, fourth to Jo Mell in the Tote Festival Handicap at Ascot, will shoulder 10st 1lb, which includes a 5lb penalty for winning at Doncaster earlier in the month.

Kieren Fallon has ridden Russian Music recently and Kelleway said: "He got off the horse at Ascot and said he would run well in the Cambridgeshire. I would like him to ride again but we will have to have a think because of the weight."

"If Kieren doesn't ride then it will be Jason Wilkinson, who claims 7lb. He is a big lad, who rides very well."

A maximum field of 40 could line up for the £50,000added race as 45 were left in yesterday. Defectors included erstwhile top weight Hawksley Hill and Luca Cumani's pair Crown Court and Dr Martens.

Cumani, who won the Cambridgeshire in 1986 with Dallas, still has a possible runner in Barba Papa, fifth to Danish Rhapsody on his latest start at Goodwood.

Seb Sanders will ride Sandmoor Chambray for Tim Easterby. Easterby's father Peter said: "He is in good form and wants good ground. We booked Seb after he won on the horse at Epsom."

Punters wanting to back Gulf Shaadi should hold fire. Eric Alston's five-year-old shot into the Cambridgeshire picture when winning Sunday's Mail On Sunday Final at Ascot.

After beating Consort three lengths, Gulf Shaadi was slashed from 66 to 1 to 20 to 1 for the Cambridgeshire, for which he picked up a 5lb penalty.

But the gelding cut his near fore and the trainer said: "The cut is OK but there is a bit of a lump on the bone. We'll keep it on the hosepipe today and should know a lot more tomorrow."

Sir Mark Prescott's stable confirmed that Pasternak, currently 10 to 1 joint favourite with William Hill, will not run unless it rains.

Hong Kong punters will get the chance to see Kieren Fallon's skills in action this winter, as he was yesterday granted a licence to ride as a freelance jockey in the territory during January 1998.

Fallon will join David Harrison, Brett Doyle and Wendyll Woods who are already there while Jason Weaver is due to arrive in Hong Kong next month.

Meanwhile, Helissio pleased connections in a gallop yesterday morning in the build up to Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The four-year-old, the spectacular winner of the Group One race last year, worked under Dominique Boeuf, who will ride him at Longchamp.

George Owen, successful as a jockey in the 1939 Cheltenham Gold Cup and as a trainer in the 1949 Grand National, died yesterday aged 89. Born on Christmas Day 1907 the highlight of his career as a jockey came when he steered Brendan's Cottage to victory in the eve of war Cheltenham Gold Cup. Owen then took up training and was responsible for one of the biggest Grand National shocks this century when Russian Hero scored a 66 to 1 victory at Aintree in 1949.