Cambridgeshire Handicap Preview
Newmarket once again plays host to the annual Cambridgeshire Handicap. Now the flat season’s coming to an end, the most prominent names in the flat racing world will be looking to make their mark. Let’s take a look at the Cambridgeshire Handicap Betting Tips and predictions.
Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap
The Cambridgeshire Handicap was first run at Newmarket in 1839 and is one of the most prominent races on the flat race calendar.
The race is always held on the last day of the three-day Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket. It makes up half of the Autumn Double along with the Cesarewitch Handicap – also held at Newmarket in October. With a purse of £160,000 across the race, the Cambridgeshire is a very lucrative class 2 race run on the Rowley Mile at the course.
The qualification for the Grade 2 race is three-year-olds plus. The 1 mile, 1-furlong race is sure to have its share of thrills and spills once again this year.
Date & Time
Saturday 29th September 2018 – 15:40 (GMT)
Cambridgeshire Handicap Outright Winner Odds:-
As the first half of the Autumn Double, the Cambridgeshire often hosts one of the most open fields in the flat racing calendar. There are over 100 horses making up the initial entry list. This will be trimmed to 40 in advance of the race. However, the wealth of unknown quantities in the race make it fascinating to bet on. This is epitomised by 50/1 shot Dolphin Vista’s win in the race in 2017.
Here are the key runners and riders for the Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap:
Kynren – 12/1 (William Hill) –
One of the form horses of 2017, Kynren picked up three consecutive wins last season under trainer David Barron (including at Newmarket in August). The horse looked to be on the verge of something special. Subsequently placed finishes at York (twice) and Sandown have cemented his place as a leading contender for the Cambridgeshire and he has form on the course.
Alfarris – 14/1 (888sport) –
William Haggas’s four-year-old has been backed heavily in the ante-post markets. As such, he is fancied by many here at Newmarket. Four runs this year have yielded two first place and two second place finishes; add this to the wins at Goodwood and Sandown and it all points towards another impressive showing here.
Stylehunter – 14/1 (Bet365) –
This is a horse of real pedigree from the much fancied John Gosden, Clarehaven Stables. Style Hunter is the son of Gosden’s Breeders Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass and will be looking to emulate the same feat here. Winless in his first four showings, question marks were asked. However, subsequent wins at Goodwood and Lingfield suggest he is up to the task here.
Danceteria – 16/1 (BetBright) –
The latest of a long line of talented French horses, Danceteria is a serial winner at Newmarket. This horse has three wins at the course already in 2018 over 1 mile, 2 furlongs. However, despite a relatively poor showing at the Curragh last week, will be one of the main players in the race at Newmarket once again.
Wissahickon – 16/1 (William Hill) –
Wissahickon is another of John Gosden’s protégés. The three-year old disappointed in his last showing at Newmarket, finishing 8th but bounced back in style to clinch an odds-on win at Chelmsford under the stewardship of Frankie Dettori. May sneak under the radar this week and could be one to watch in the betting.
Kenya – 16/1 (Betsafe) –
The Aiden O’Brien trained three-year old is in good company currently as part of the form stables in the UK. His win at the Curragh earlier in the month (as a 20/1 shot) was impressive. Subsequently second at Leopardstown last week (losing out to I Can Fly), Kenya has all the hallmarks of an impressive sprinter and is one to watch in the Cambridgeshire.
Seniority – 16/1 (Coral) –
Alfrris’s stablemate, Seniority, has lacked consistency this term. Seniority has had three wins (two at Chelmsford and one at York) he followed this with two poor showings at York and Ascot. If on his game, he’s a more than capable horse that seems to have a temperamental side in the bigger races. This could play a part.
Sharja Bridge – 16/1 (William Hill) –
The Roger Varian trained four year old is winless in 2018 and came back from 64 days break at York to finish 4th in a high-quality field. The pedigree is there, question marks lie over suitability for the trip and ability to perform at this level – although a second at Newmarket in May suggest that he is more than capable on his day.
Titus – 20/1 (Ladbrokes) –
Declan Carroll’s four-year-old has enjoyed a busy summer, competing in no less than 8 races in a hectic schedule. The impressive win at York in late August underlined his credentials at class 2 level and his subsequent run at Doncaster looked too long in trip (1 mile, 6 furlong). In a field so open, it could be a relative outsider that comes through and Titus looks good value.
Top Pick – Kynren – 12/1 (William Hill)
Each Way Pick – Alfarris – 14/1 (888sport)