He may well need the run in that Listed race as he’s been given a break since just missing out in the John Smith’s Cup, but another bold bid from this tough cookie wouldn’t come as any surprise.
Snapped up by the shrewd combination of Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers, who plundered last year’s Silver Cambridgeshire with Mithqaal, he’s already paid his way – and some – but looks capable of picking up another huge pot before the year’s out.
He’s won handicaps at Wolverhampton (75), Kempton (84) and York (94) and although competing off a career-high perch of 99 in the John Smith’s Cup, he went down fighting after being one of those who didn't enjoy a perfectly clear passage in the straight.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that the York form has worked out well, but the winner landing two Group Three races subsequently underlines the severity of the task Big Country was facing that day and on the face of things a 1lb rise to a mark of 100 shouldn’t be completely beyond him.
There are any number of dark ones lurking a bit further down the weights but this is a horse whose light has been a shining beacon through the 2017 Flat campaign and few would begrudge him another big day in the sun at Newmarket at the end of the month.
1pt e.w. Bravery in Betfred Cambridgeshire at 40/1
1pt e.w. Big Country in Betfred Cambridgeshire at 16/1
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Posted at 1630 BST on 18/09/17.