Kieran Shoemark has been confirmed as the replacement rider for Reverend Hubert in the upcoming Cesarewitch Stakes at Newmarket. The eight-year-old horse is trained by Charles Byrnes, who initially intended for Harry Davies to ride the colt. Davies, however, was reassigned to race for trainer William Haggas at York, prompting Byrnes to secure Shoemark’s services.

Byrnes, based in County Limerick and known for training Run For Oscar—the winner of the second leg of the Autumn Double four years ago—expressed relief at obtaining a top-class jockey on short notice. He learned of Davies' change in plans only on the morning of the race and emphasized his confidence in Shoemark’s abilities.

Reverend Hubert is set to improve on his previous Cesarewitch run, according to Byrnes. The horse finished fifth as the 7-2 favorite in last year’s edition but faced a challenging wide draw and a lighter weight assignment at that time. Although carrying more weight this year, Byrnes believes the current draw offers a better chance for the horse to deliver a strong performance in what remains a highly competitive event.

Elsewhere at York, Tim Easterby’s 12-year-old Copper Knight is scheduled to make his 128th and final race appearance. The veteran horse, who has accumulated seven wins out of 20 over his career, will compete in the Copper Knight Winning-Most Horse Handicap at 4:25 p.m. This race marks the culmination of a lengthy and successful racing career.

The Cesarewitch Stakes and the event at York highlight the final stages of the autumn racing calendar, drawing attention to both emerging contenders and seasoned campaigners concluding their time on the track.