WILLIE Mullins knows exactly what it takes to win the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap, and he might just have found his next big contender for the race from among the beaten runners at Leopardstown last weekend.

Bunting finished fifth in what looked a deep edition of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap at 25/1 for owner Tony Bloom, and the way in which he finished out over what was probably an inadequate mile and five furlongs was certainly promising. In fact, from three furlongs out to the winning post, nothing came home quicker.

It was noted in the pre-race comments ahead of Bunting’s return from nearly 100 days off at the Galway Festival that he physically looked like he’d improve for the run, perhaps trained to progress with autumn handicaps in mind.

Mullins has entered nine runners for the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch, but Bunting is not in the mix - instead entered for the Newmarket equivalent on October 11th. He’s currently due to get in off 9st 1lb, and it’s worth remembering that Bloom and Mullins teamed up to win the race with Stratum in 2019. The owner also captured the race in 2017 through the well-backed Withhold.

Odds of 20/1 about Bunting look much too big for a trainer who was denied four straight wins in the Cesarewitch in 2021 when Burning Victory finished second to a well-handicapped Buzz.

Ascot ace

There could also be some ante-post value in Anmaat at 7/1 for the Qipco Champion Stakes - he might end up much shorter on the day. Ombudsman currently tops the market but if the ground turned up as testing as it often does for British Champions Day, would John and Thady Gosden really be eager to run him? It must be a question mark, especially with other valuable international options on the horizon.

Calandagan looks the big threat, while Delacroix (priced up as short as 4/1 with several firms) is a doubt, given the potential for him to be retired by then.

We know Anmaat loves Ascot, was right up there with his very best in winning this race 12 months ago - beating Calandagan - and proved he’s as good as ever at the age of seven in finishing second to Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. He probably needs slower ground than he faced at Leopardstown to be at his best, and the prospect of him getting it at Ascot is an exciting one. He represents each-way value at the very least.

More broadly speaking, there were plenty of runs that could have been marked up with how the races were playing out towards the stands’ side at Leopardstown. Finale winner Pink Oxalis has been a terrific representative for Stephen Thorne, bought for €5,500 at the Goffs Autumn Horse-In-Training and Yearling Sale last November when rated 61. She got an ideal run down the near side to earn a rise of 9lb to 95.

In the same event, the fifth-placed Tachos might be one worth watching going forward. She made her attack almost in isolation across on the far side and hit 2/1 in-running (from a Betfair SP of 16/1).

She just couldn’t quite sustain her effort late on. However, she remains of interest going forward.