Run over 1m1f the Cambridgeshire Handicap is staged at Newmarket racecourse on their Rowley Mile track. First run in 1839 the contest is the first race in what’s known as the Autumn Double, with the Cesarewitch being the other race run in October.
We take a look ahead to the 2021 renewal of the Bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap, this year run on Saturday 25th September – giving you the key stats to look out for.....Did you know ALL of the last 19 winners were aged 6 or younger?
Recent Cambridgeshire Handicap Winners
2020 - Majestic Dawn (40/1)
2019 - Lord North (9/2 fav)
2018 - Wissahickon (11/1)
2017 - Dolphin Vista (50/1)
2016 – Spark Plug (12/1)
2015 – Third Time Lucky (14/1)
2014 – Bronze Angel (14/1)
2013 – Educate (8/1 fav)
2012 – Bronze Angel (9/1)
2011 – Prince of Johanne (40/1)
2010 – Credit Swap (14/1)
2009 – Supaseus (16/1)
2008 – Tazeez (25/1)
2007 – Pipedreamer (5/1 fav)
2006 – Formal Decree (9/1)
2005 – Blue Monday (5/1 fav)
2004 – Spanish Don (100/1)
2003 – Chivalry (14/1)
2002 – Beauchamp Pilot (14/1)
Key Cambridgeshire Handicap Trends
19/19 – Aged 6 or younger
16/19 – Won 3 or more times in their career
16/19 – Carried 9-5 or less
15/19 – Won from a double-figure stall
14/19 – Aged between 4 and 6 years-old
14/19 – Unplaced favourites
14/19 – Had won over 1m2f before
13/19 – Finished 5th or better last time out
13/19 – Rated between 90-100
13/19 – Returned a double (or treble) figure price in the betting
12/19 – Had 5 or more runs that season
11/19 – Carried 8-12 or less
5/19 – Ran at Newbury last time out
4/19 – Winning favourites
4/19 – Trained by John Gosden
3/19 – Won their last race
2/19 - Ridden by Frankie Dettori
2/19 - Trained by Marcus Tregoning
The last 6 winners came from stalls 21 or higher
13 of the last 15 winners had run in the last 9 weeks
The average winning SP in the last 19 years is 21/1
TQ VERDICT: 35 runners here, so - as always - a super competitive renewal of this popular handicap. With all of the last 19 winners aged 6 or younger this is a good place to start with the trends. Of the 35 runners, this would be a negative for just Anythingtoday, Trais Fluors and You’re Hired though. 16 of the last 19 winners carried 9-5 or less in weight too - so the top five on the card - Bell Rock, Magical Morning, last year’s winner - Majestic Dawn, Raise You and Royal Marine are overlooked too. It’s a race the Gosden yard have liked to target too in recent years, so it’s no shock to see them having another leading player - Uncle Bryn. This 3 year-old is up just 4lbs for a nice win at Ascot last time out and jockey Robert Havlin is 2-from-2 on the horse. Draw 30 looks ideal, but you just feel he’s a bit short in the betting in a race with 34 other runners in - unless you’re on at bigger prices. Last year’s winner - Majestic Dawn - is rated 10lbs higher this time, but don’t forget he won this by an easy 4 ¾ lengths last season. He’s not won since though, but hasn’t been disgraced, while another high draw in 34 helps. He’ll be looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Prince de Galles won the race in 1969 and 70! Bell Rock was a fair third last year but is 5lbs higher this time, while Lucander (2nd), You’re Hired (4th) and Anythingtoday (7th) were other notable runners from last year that line-up again. Looking at the draw, it could pay to note that ALL of the last six winners came from stalls 21 or higher - this would be a plus for 15 of the 35 runners. Cases can be made for the likes of Astro King, Long Tradition, Fantastic Fox, Irish Admiral and Dance Jupiter for the Joseph O’Brien yard that will be looking to grab a rare win for the Irish here. The three I like there though are the already mentioned LUCANDER, ANMAAT and CHICHESTER. The former was a fair second in the race 12 months ago and gets in here off a 3lb lower mark. Draw 28 is ideal too - had draw 27 last year - and he heads here in good order after a close second at York last time out. Anmaat has won his last two in good fashion at Bath and Donny. Up just 4lbs for the last of those, draw 22 is a plus and he gets in here with only 8-9 of weight - Jim Crowley rides. Finally, Chichester has been well supported for this race all week and it was hard to not be taken by his 6 ½ length romp at Ayr last time out. Up just 3lbs in the ratings for that, but he travelled so well into the race that day, that you feel there is more to come. Draw 10 gives him a few options and it’s interesting that Hollie Doyle has been booked to ride.
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