Racing: Bookies hold Wizard in awe

BOOKMAKERS, fearing another big-race success by the Sir Mark Prescott stable, yesterday sharply cut the odds for Wizard King in the Cambridgeshire Handicap.

Wizard King is now 14-1 clear favourite from 20-1 with Ladbrokes, and 14-1 joint- favourite (also from 20-1) with Coral, who have Halling as their other joint-favourite.

The Cambridgeshire is run at Newmarket on 1 October, but the three-year-old is expected to attempt to extend his winning sequence to four at Goodwood today.

Best-backed horses with the Cambridgeshire sponsors, William Hill, who made Wizard King their 14-1 favourite on Wednesday, were William Tell, 16-1 from 20s, and Palace Pageant, 25-1 from 33s.

Punters were warned yesterday that Humbert's Landing, installed by Ladbrokes on Wednesday as 16-1 favourite for the Ayr Gold Cup, could run elsewhere. A spokesman for Paul Cole's stable said: 'We advise punters to hold their bets as plans have not yet been finalised.'