Burke, Obaid and Lee bid for back-to-back Cambridgeshire glory with Boiling Point

Karl Burke, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and Clifford Lee teamed up to win last year’s bet365 Cambridgeshire with the top-weight and are out to repeat the dose with Boiling Point on Saturday.

Liberty Lane defied a mark of 105 when making almost all the running at Newmarket 12 months ago, but Boiling Point will have to be even better, running off 109.

Beaten a short head at this meeting two years ago in the Tattersalls Stakes, he has only had one run in a handicap before, on his debut for Burke back in June, and he was only narrowly beaten in the Strensall Stakes last time out.

Burke has a very able second string to his bow in Thunder Run who is next in the weights and both are fancied by the handler.

“They are two good horses and Boiling Point is a Group horse really,” said Burke. “He’s got to give a lump of weight away, but I think he’s the class horse of the race, although Thunder Run is a good horse in his own right.

“They are both drawn on the far side, the same as Liberty Lane last year. Fingers crossed the draw is kind to us, which is something we’ll probably not know until after the race.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Treble Tee has been favourite for the race since winning easily at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. He carries a 4lb penalty for that success, but is still 4lb well-in.

Ed Crisford said: “When he won first time out on the Rowley Mile last year we thought he was going to be a good horse as he looked good that day, but the early part of this year was just a disaster as he was doing things the wrong way around.

“We had to pull stumps and we gelded him, but that has done him the world of good. He has come out of the Doncaster race really well and he is just coming good.

“To win a Cambridgeshire you often have to be a Group horse, and if he goes and does that, then you are in business for Group races.

“He is finally doing what we thought he could do. He is an improving horse, and he is lightly raced still, so he has got it all ahead of him.”

On his penultimate start at Goodwood Treble Tee was beaten by David Menuisier’s Tribal Chief who previously had tended to blow the start, giving himself too much to do. Having broken on terms that day, he was able to show his ability.

“We know he’s a pretty nice horse. He’s draw in stall 20 which would normally mean he’d be in the middle, but surprisingly there are only 24 runners, which is the lowest I can remember for a long time, it’s weird,” said Menuisier.

“We’ll know after if it’s a good or bad draw, but there are lots of fancied horses not far off him.

“He must have a chance, Sean (Levey) knows him well, the horse is well and we just need a bit of luck in a race like that, I’ve had one beaten in this who must have had 25lb in hand (Danceteria, ninth to Wissahickon in 2018 before going on to win a Group One)!

“He’s run well on the track before and I don’t believe the trip will be an issue, I just don’t want the ground to quicken any more but looking at the maps it’s looks like the last four furlongs is pretty good which is what you want when you come off the bridle as he likes to get his toe in.

“The form of his last race at Goodwood looks strong and he has a lot going his way, we just need a bit of luck. He hasn’t really run a bad race of his own account.

“Because he’s been slowly away a few times it might mean he’s well handicapped – but I wouldn’t like him to do that again!”

Richard Hughes’ Real Gain is another in the mix after a pleasing comeback at Goodwood in the summer. He was in fact the ante-post favourite 12 months ago before being forced to miss out.

“I would have liked a bit more give in the ground for him, but he ran really well having been off for a very long time at Goodwood,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“You need a lot of luck in a race as competitive as this, but I could see him running a big race.”

Ed Walker’s Fort George has already won over the track and trip this season and returns to the Rowley Mile after making all in style over 10 furlongs at Newbury last month.

Walker said: “He has had a light campaign and this has been the plan since Newbury.

“I’m thrilled the weather has held, he’s got form on the track and he’s improving, so we’re really hopeful.

“I’m as positive as you can be in a race like this. I’ve been positive quite a few times in the Cambridgeshire and go nowhere near!

“It’s a tough race, but he’s in good form.”