Cambridgeshire Handicap Tips and Free Bets

Cambridgeshire Handicap Preview: Tips, Betting Offers and Odds

Late September each year sees Newmarket host its three day Cambridgeshire meeting. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for the meeting’s signature event.

This heritage handicap was first run at Newmarket back in 1839 over a trip of 1m1f. One of the most historic events of the racing year, the contest now offers £160,000 in total prize money. Something of a cavalry charge, the Cambridgeshire is always a great betting event and this year looks no different.

Cambridgeshire Handicap 2019 Race Preview and Betting Tips

The Cambridgeshire Handicap really is a very special race. Some of the most powerful connections in flat racing mix with syndicates of fans in the owners’ enclosure at Newmarket. 33 horses are set to compete in the 2019 renewal of a race which is run over the rather unique trip of 1 mile 1 furlong.

The huge field and that strange trip make this a race for specialists with punters preferring those who have run well in it before. We have a few of horses returning for another crack at the Cambridgeshire but will any of them land the first prize which is just shy of £100,000?

Experience is Critical

The top four horses in the betting for the 2019 Cambridgeshire Handicap are all three-year-olds and thus making their debuts in the race. Wissahickon became the third three-year-old to win the race in the last 11 years so it’s certainly not impossible for any of the younger horses to win but the trends suggest focussing on those with more experience is the way to go.

Charlie Hills’ five-year-old Afaak follows the impressive younger horses in the betting. He has the combination of class and grit to grab the win but is surely carrying too much weight at 9st 10lb. The trends suggest that anything over 9st 5lb is too much of a burden other than for truly exceptional horses.

Jazeel Fits the Bill

A quick look at Jazeel suggests that he could be a contender. Jedd O’Keeffe’s four-year-old has enough experience of this sort of big field affair and appears well handicapped with 9st to carry. Look a bit deeper and Jazeel quickly looks a great price at odds of 16/1 with Ladbrokes.

Many connections enter strong milers in the Cambridgeshire, hoping that they will be able to get the extra furlong. However, it’s those with experience over longer trips that are dropping back down that have the best record. Jazeel has spent much of the season running over 1 mile 2 furlongs and finished strongly over 1 mile 4 furlongs last time out.

The strength and stamina that Jazeel has shown suggests he will be able to kick well for home even in a quickly run race, so a big win may well be on the cards.

Another Touch the Outsider to Choose

One of the joys of this sort of handicap is the ability to have a punt on an outsider. Many, many horses available at longer odds have returned nicely with a place in the Cambridgeshire over the years and Another Touch could well add his name to the list.

Richard Fahey’s six-year-old was forced to miss the best part of a year before making his comeback before returning with a fourth place in the Diamond Jubilee Cup at York. He then placed fifth in another competitive handicap at Ayr just last week.

Another Touch should be at his best following those runs and could just spring a surprise at the massive odds of 40/1 with RaceBets.

Betting Predictions

The Cambridgeshire Handicap tends to produce engrossing races and a very lively betting market. Whilst we can only sit back and enjoy the former, the latter has provided two very tempting tips in Jazeel (16/1 with Ladbrokes each way) and Another Touch (40/1 each way with RaceBets).

Previous Cambridgeshire Winners

2018 – Wissahickon – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer John Gosden
2017 – Dolphin Vista – jockey George Wood, trainer Martyn Meade
2016 – Spark Plug – jockey Jimmy Fortune, trainer Brian Meehan
2015 – Third Time Lucky – jockey Adam Beschizza, trainer Richard Fahey
2014 – Bronze Angel – jockey Louis Steward, trainer Marcus Tregoning
2013 – Educate – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Ismail Mohammed
2012 – Bronze Angel – jockey William Buick, trainer Marcus Tregoning
2011 – Prince of Johanne – jockey John Fahy, trainer Tom Tate
2010 – Credit Swap – jockey Jim Crowley, trainer Michael Wigham
2009 – Supaseus – jockey Travis Block, trainer Hughie Morrison
2008 – Tazeez – jockey Richard Hills, trainer John Gosden
2007 – Pipedreamer – jockey Jimmy Fortune, trainer John Gosden
2006 – Formal Decree – jockey Jamie Spencer, trainer Alan Swinbank

Cambridgeshire Handicap History, Top Jockeys and Best Trainers

1839 proved to be a vintage year for the founding of enduring handicap contests, as not just this event but also the Cesarewitch Handicap made their debut. Historically known as the Autumn Double, the task of winning both races is in fact rarely attempted by the same horse, due to the widely differing demands of the two contests. There were, however, three runners who pulled off the double in the first 50 years of the events, namely Rosebery, Foxhall and Plaisanterie.

This may “only” be a handicap contest, but it has nevertheless been won by some extremely talented performers over the years. Undoubtedly the classiest of these was the 1892 heroine, La Fleche, who also won that season’s 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger. In more recent times, Godolphin’s, Halling took this prize in 1994 before going on to do the Eclipse and International double in both 1995 and 1996.

Top Horses, Jockeys and Trainers

As of 2015 a total of seven horses had recorded two wins in the Cambridgeshire, with Hackler’s Pride being the first to achieve the feat in 1903 and 1904.

Well over a century separates the two trainers who share the best record here. William Day recorded a quartet of successes between the years of 1855 and 1881, with Jeremy Glover repeating the trick between 1987 and 1996. John Gosden joined the pair on four wins when saddling the 2018 winner.

We have a two way tie on four wins in the jockeys ranks. Here the two men who lead the way are Nat Flatman and George Fordham. They both posted their winning performances way back in the 19th century.

NB – There are some other big races at Newmarket this weekend so check out our Middle Park Stakes betting tips and Cheveley Park Stakes offers and preview too.