A competitive field is engaged for Saturday’s $100,000 Jockey Celebration Day Stakes (1400m) at Belmont with punters struggling to decipher the puzzle.

Angel Undercover ($4.60f) is a narrow market leader after finishing second to Urquharts Bluff upon reappearance in a 1200m event at Belmont two weeks ago.

A six-year-old daughter of Harry Angel, Angel Undercover was very consistent last campaign and frequently featured in the placings but netted only one win.

Last year’s winner Sensessional ($5) makes a return to the track, having his first start since April when a narrow second in the Old Comrade behind former stablemate Essentric Nature.

He warmed up for this with a long-neck second in a Belmont trial behind Amaroo Star almost two weeks ago.

Another of his former stablemates, Captain Pluto ($6), also makes his racetrack return in his first start of 2026.

Noted for performances over longer distances in recent times, he has also proven adept over shorter trips with three of his seven career victories over 1400m.

He has been soundly held in both lead-up trials beating just one runner home cumulatively, however, they may not be a fair guide.

Too Dardy ($6) rises to this distance after competing over 1000m and 1200m in four starts this campaign and is sure to have something of a fitness edge over those ahead of him in betting.

Silver Eye ($8) found one better in both the Bunbury Cup (2000m) and Pinjarra Cup (2300m) in March and finished third in a recent Lark Hill hit-out behind Triple Jay.

Snippy Which ($9.50) has been a model of consistency this preparation having scarcely left the placings and is seemingly thriving on a diet of rigorous racing.

Triple Jay ($12) enjoyed victory in this race two years ago when in the midst of a purple patch and has not won since the Blue Spec (1650m) run 18 days after that event.

Without Reg ($21) must lift off his first-up effort, while Outspoken Lad ($23) joins Sensessional and Triple Jay as horses who resume for the Dan and Ben Pearce stable.

Currimundi ($26), Rokanori ($34) and Boots Like Bruce ($71) are set to be longshots and round out the line-up.

+ Group 1-winning galloper War Machine will make his racetrack return in Saturday’s Group 3 Aurie’s Star (1200m) at Flemington, his first start since March.

The class conveyance was 11th in the Newmarket Handicap over this course and distance when last seen and is the choice of top returning rider Blake Shinn.

Shinn himself has not ridden since Melbourne Cup Day last year after a serious fall and co-trainer Ben Hayes said he elected to ride War Machine over stablemate Arkansaw Kid after working them last week.

“He rode them both in jump-outs last Friday and I don’t think there’s much between them,” Hayes said.

“He knows War Machine well and he’s going back to his old buddy.”

War Machine, who won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June last year, went on to win the Gilgai Stakes over Saturday’s track and trip in the spring.

He was soundly held in The Everest behind Ka Ying Rising before returning earlier this year when beaten as a $1.30 favourite at Pakenham and down the track in the Newmarket.

“He lost his way a bit last preparation,” Hayes said.

“He had a long prep. He went to Queensland, freshened, came back, went to The Everest, came back, but just didn’t come up in the autumn.

“He had a long break, and he seems to have come back really well.

“His work at home has been great and seems a happier horse. He’s enjoying his trackwork, so hopefully that converts to some good runs.”

The six-year-old son of Harry Angel is the $3.60 favourite despite lugging a 60.5kg impost ahead of a pair of Hayes’ other horses in Ndola ($5) and Arkansaw Kid ($6).

Ndola was a first-up winner in the Santa Ana Lane (1200m) at Flemington four weeks ago and has built a handsome record with seven wins from 18 starts.

“He was good fresh when he got away with murder in front and they couldn’t catch him,” Hayes said.

“It’s a step up in class and he’s running against some very good horses, but he deserves to be there.”

Arkansaw Kid will instead be ridden by Mark Zahra, who also makes his return to the saddle after a winter sojourn following England’s Royal Ascot meeting.

“We changed things around with him to keep him thinking,” Hayes said.

“He’s been in work a long time, so it was like changing stables, without changing stables.

“I thought his Traralgon jump-out was good, his jump-out on Friday was great and he’s always been a consistent, good horse for the stable and is a horse we all love.

“He’s good down the straight, he’s won a couple of Bobbie Lewis Qualitys, so he knows what he’s doing.”

Like War Machine, Arkansaw Kid is aged six and sired by Harry Angel.