Francis Norton is set to partner joint-favourite Tryphaena in the Tote Cesarewitch, it emerged today.
The lightweight jockey has been handed the ride on the Irish five-year-old, who has just 7st 10lb to carry in next Saturday`s Newmarket marathon.
His mount has been all the rage in betting for the race of late and is 6-1 joint favourite with William Hill.
'Francis rang yesterday and he is set to ride her, subject to confirmation,' trainer Willie Mullins said.
'Tryphaena is in good form and I am not woried about all the money on her.'
Norton, second in the Cesarewitch on Bardolph in 1991, has made his name by winning big handicaps off low weights and took the Cambridgeshire on another Irish challenger in She`s Our Mare last year.
Michael Hills will be reunited with Dominant Duchess in next Saturday`s race, in which the mare finished second last year.
Trainer brother John was delighted with a weekend work-out by the six-year-old, who had trailed in last of nine under Michael`s twin brother Richard in the Doncaster Cup last month.
Dominant Duchess is 10-1 co-third favourite for the two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap with Coral, having won both her previous starts at Ascot when ridden by Richard Quinn.
She had initiated a hat-trick when scoring at York under Michael Hills and John Hills said this morning: 'Dominant Duchess is in very good form.
'She was a bit under the weather after her last run in the Doncaster Cup and she didn`t give her running.
'We left her alone for a week and she goes well fresh. She worked nicely yesterday, Michael Hills will ride her and everything is on schedule.
'The track is right for her and though she has a fair bit more weight than last year I think she has impoved since then.
'I think she is bound to give the others a run for their money.'
Dominant Duchess is second top-weight for the #120,000 event on 8st 13lb and is likely to remain so as Spirit Of Love, who tops the handicap on 9st 10lb, is set to bid to repeat his 1998 victory in the race.
'That`s the plan, the intention is to run,' said his trainer Mark Johnston.
Tote Cesarewitch: Coral betting: 6-1 Barba Papa, 13-2 Tryphaena, 10-1 Dominant Duchess, Eastwell Hall, Heros Fatal, Silent Warning, 12-1 Ansar, 16-1 bar.
William Hill: 6-1 Barba Papa, Tryphaena, 10-1 Silent Warning, 12-1 Ansar, Dominant Duchess, Eastwell Hall, Heros Fatal, 16-1 Carly`s Quest, Ravenswood, Seliana, Sharp Stepper, Temple Way, Turnpole, 20-1 bar.
