The Cesarewitch Handicap is run over 2m2f on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course and is one of the most popular betting races at the latter end of the flat racing calendar.
Over thirty runners usually go to post. The race is also referred to as the second leg of the autumn double. The “first leg” of the autumn double, the Cambridgeshire, was won this year by Lord North (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori) the 9/2 favourite.
Can the same jockey bring home the spoils again on Saturday afternoon? 31 runners go to post at 4.10pm and here is a look at all their chances:
Who Dares Wins
Consistent sort who ran just last weekend in Prix Du Cadran at ParisLongchamp finishing fourth. Also won the Northumberland Plate at the end of June but will has the burden of top weight here.
Cypress Creek
Has spent most of this season on pacemaking duties for his esteemed stablemates but runs here entirely on his own merit. Very dangerous to dismiss from such a top stable.
Sneaky Getaway
Lightly raced six-year-old and has was won four of his nine career starts. He is two from four on the flat and can be forgiven his defeat in the Doncaster Cup behind Stradivarius.
Stratum
Winner of the JLT Cup at Newbury in 2018 but his flat form then went into the doldrums before he recently took a little race at Killarney.
Dubawi Fifty
Runner-up to Who Dares Wins at Newcastle but has gone off the boil in two subsequent runs since.
Eddystone Rock
The seven-year-old scored with ease at the Shergar Cup before winning well at the Ebor Meeting. This is another step up but he is clearly in good heart.
Time To Study
Won the Old Borough Cup in ding-dong battle with Alright Sunshine and should appreciate the step up in trip here.
Buildmeupbuttercup
Buildmeupbuttercup has been the antepost favourite to give Willie back-to-back wins in the Cesarewitch after taking it last year with Low Sun. Frankie Dettori takes the ride.
Carnwennan
Clocked up three wins on the bounce at the start of the season but was comprehensively beaten in the Marsh Cup at Newbury. Fared much better behind Eddystone Rock at York last time however.
Not So Sleepy
Well beaten behind Time to Study at Haydock. Will need to defy long odds here.
Rainbow Dreamer
Another horse well beaten by Time To Study at Haydock but will appreciate the conditions underfoot.
Coeur De Lion
Winner of the Chester Cup in desperate conditions back in May and will find the going right up his street on Saturday. Jockey Shame Foley will be brimming with confidence too.
Hermosa Mundo
It will be a beautiful world for somebody if this one obliges at 100/1.
Billy Ray
Ran well behind Withold at Newbury but his other runs this season have not been so encouraging.
Themaxwecan
Has been running with credit all season but most of his best performances have been in small fields.
Garbanzo
Formerly trained by Dr Richard Newland but now with Ed Walker. Winner on the all-weather in August but well beaten at Haydock.
Sovereign Duke
Has shown form over 1m6f but this is a whole new ball game for the four-year-old.
Great White Shark
Has run some respectable races at Galway recently and hails from the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard. One to watch.
Coeur Blimey
A difficult horse to predict at the best of times but often saves his best for when there is plenty of juice in the ground.
Ranch Hand
Took a valuable 1m6f handicap at Haydock this season and steps up in distance here. He could well continue is upward curve.
Mr Everest
Looks to have a mountain to climb on his last run at Listowel but Tony Martin knows the time of day in this race having won it back in 2007.
Timoshenko
Timoshenko is bidding for a seventh successive victory as he comes into this race and there is every chance he may well relish the step up in distance.
Seinesational
Ran a neck second to Timoshenko at Glorious Goodwood but is more than five times his price. Seems well overpriced based on that form line.
Summer Moon
Winner of three races this season but has yet to run over this distance. He is an unknown quantity.
Rochester House
Had been running well all season long in small field races until encountering a twelve-runner race and failing to place. The signs look ominous now.
Great Trango
Irish raider who looks very attractively handicapped here. Looks like the typical dual-purpose horse that has thrived in this race over the years.
Party Playboy
Ran a decent enough race behind Timoshenko at Goodwood and is another who is probably trading just a little too big in the betting.
Nuits St Georges
Finished second on soft ground at Haydock in August which a pretty sterling effort given the conditions that day. 50/1 again could look big come the off.
Darksideofarnside
Sneaks into the race with a feather weight of 8st 2lb and ran a cracker last week at Ascot in the soft. He could well be the lurker in the handicap.
Graceful Lady
Had the beating of the former Swinton Hurdle winner Gwafa three runs ago at Newmarket but looks a risky proposition in this.
Land Of Oz
He is a relatively unexposed three-year-old and a decent stayer that gets in here carrying less weight than a box of Ryvita. You can certainly tell why he is fancied in the betting to give Sir Mark Prescott his first ever Cesarewitch winner.
Conclusion
I’ve always tended to side with predominantly National Hunt trainers in this race and the one that is on my radar this year is Alan King.
After narrowly missing out on the Cambridgeshire with Beringer, it would be fitting if King could gain some kind compensation by taking The “Ces”.
As much as I am a fan of Who Dares Wins, especially after tipping him up on this very blog for the Northumberland Plate, I believe he has been weighted out of this contest, so therefore I will be siding with one of King’s other runners- Coeur De Lion (nap).
On a high from his Prix Marcel Boussac victory last Sunday, I believe Shane Foley is the perfect partner for this six-year-old stayer.
With such a large field it pays to have a back-up plan in place, and my other each-way alternative is Great Trango (nb) who will relish this stamina test.
888Sport suggests: Coeur De Lion and Great Trango (e/w).
