THE inaugural Cesarewitch Handicap was run in 1839, which makes it particularly intriguing that there has only been one multiple winner in the race’s history - the Brian Meehan-trained Aaim to Prosper in 2010 and 2012.

Emmet Mullins has the opportunity to go one step further today with last year’s winner of the Club Godolphin-backed handicap, The Shunter. He will bid to become the first horse in the £175,000 contest’s long history to land back-to-back runnings.

However, layers reckon the Grand National-winning trainer holds a better chance to claim the marathon event with Jacovec Cavern, who will be partnered by Hayley Turner after a close second on his stable debut at the Galway Festival.

Mullins said: “The Shunter has never let us down. It’s been a tricky campaign for him... The ground has just been too fast for him. He got a bit of a mid-season break without having a run, but has come back again and is in good old order. Fingers crossed he comes home safe and sound, but I think he will run a good race once again.”

On the Turner Family-owned Jacovec Cavern, Mullins added: “I thought he made a good first start for us at Galway and hopefully we can eke out a bit more improvement. He stayed two miles well at Galway, but this is a higher class of race and even more of a stamina test, so for such a strong traveller that could be a slight worry. Hopefully he can overcome it.

“To be fair to the Turners, when they sent him to me this was always the first aim, so fingers crossed it is now upon us and we can go there with no hiccups. It’s great to have Hayley on board, she has such great experience riding there and hopefully he can do the business.”

The big-race favourite for today’s staying highlight, due off at 3.40pm, is trained closeby to last year’s winner. Recent Listowel maiden hurdle winner Sea Of Sands, who won the 2021 German Derby Trial, certainly has the potential to be well handicapped off a mark of 97 for Willie Mullins.