The Bet365 Cambridgeshire is not the most valuable race on Newmarket’s Saturday card – that would be the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes. But it is the weekend’s big betting heat and the first leg of the famous Autumn Double which harks back to the days before satellite channels or even TV and big betting races in the calendar were still something on which everybody had a flutter. Of course, in those days, you had to wait for the evening papers to find out if you could collect from the backstreet bookies.
The Rowley Mile course on Newmarket Heath hosts the Cambridgeshire and also the second leg of the Autumn Double, the Cesarewitch. Newmarket is unique in Britain in having two tracks which sit by side – the July course is used throughout the summer months.
Cambridgeshire History and Trends
There has been horse racing on Newmarket Heath since before King Charles I lost his head in an argument with Oliver Cromwell. Charles II and his brother, the future James II, were regular attendees. Though, in those days, races were matches between aristocrats not handicappers partnered by professionals.
The Cambridgeshire was first run in 1839 and seven horses have won it twice. Bronze Angel, in 2012 and 2014, being the most recent.
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- There has been no winner aged seven or older since 1992 and there has only been one winner aged six in 14 years.
- Eleven of the last 13 winners had finished in the first five in their previous race so recent good form is also a positive with most winners having had a run in the preceding seven weeks.
- The last three winners have been drawn 21 or higher.
- None of the last five winners has started at single-figure odds
Cambridgeshire Winners Last Nine Years
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Credit Swap | 5 | 8-07 | Jim Crowley | Michael Wigham | 14/1 | 1:53.87 |
| 2011 | Prince of Johanne | 5 | 8-09 | John Fahy | Tom Tate | 40/1 | 1:49.14 |
| 2012 | Bronze Angel | 3 | 8-08 | William Buick | Marcus Tregoning | 9/1 | 1:47.73 |
| 2013 | Educate | 4 | 9-09 | Johnny Murtagh | Ismail Mohammed | 8/1 F | 1:51.05 |
| 2014 | Bronze Angel | 5 | 8-08 | Louis Steward | Marcus Tregoning | 14/1 | 1:48.68 |
| 2015 | Third Time Lucky | 3 | 8-04 | Adam Beschizza | Richard Fahey | 14/1 | 1:50.11 |
| 2016 | Spark Plug | 5 | 9-04 | Jimmy Fortune | Brian Meehan | 12/1 | 1:48.99 |
| 2017 | Dolphin Vista | 4 | 8-10 | George Wood | Martyn Meade | 50/1 | 1:51.24 |
| 2018 | Wissahickon | 3 | 9-05 | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | 11/1 | 1:48.01 |
Cambridgeshire Verdict
It’s no surprise that Le Don Vie is near the head of the ante-post market (15/2 with Paddy Power).
Ryan Moore has been engaged to ride Hughie Morrison’s in-form charge and a recent win at Goodwood is working out well with the second having gone close in a competitive Newbury handicap next time and the third winning easily at Yarmouth. The ability to stay further than 1m1f is always a plus in the Cambridgeshire but the gelding, by late Brazilian sire Leroidesanimaux, is not short of pace having won over a mile at Epsom in the spring when trained by Andrew Balding.
Ironically, Balding trains one of his chief market rivals in Good Birthday. Also a best 15/2, Oisin Murphy’s mount beat a decent field over 1m2f at Beverley last time. He would not be fazed should the going ease, which is a distinct possibility with plenty of rain in the weather forecast.
LORD NORTH won on soft going over a mile as a two-year-old. He only won a match on his reappearance and then finished last in a Listed race at Sandown but he was put away over the summer for an autumn campaign and was well backed in his prep race for this at Ascot. He was no match for an easy winner but was staying on nicely in the closing stages having been unsuited by a very slow pace. On that evidence, there is every reason to believe the extra furlong at Newmarket will be right up his street and the lightly-raced gelding can record back-to-back victories for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori in the race at the 10/1 with William Hill.
There are plenty of dangers in a race like the Cambridgeshire, of course, but most of them are fellow three-year-olds.
Fifth Position has been attracting ante-post support having been highly tried since beating a host of subsequent winners in a Nottingham novice event in April – he is now a general 9/1.
The imposing Dark Vision was a very smart two-year-old and would be interesting at the 25/1 with Paddy Power if able to recapture that form.
Of the older horses, special mention goes to the returning Dubai Horizon, who also runs in the Godolphin colours. He hasn’t raced in more than a year and has to shoulder top weight but fitness is unlikely to be an issue and champion apprentice-elect Cieren Fallon takes off a handy 3lb – he is a best 25/1.
Mordin finished second in last year’s race but remains 9lb higher. He is a best 16/1, the same as Jazeel and Majestic Dawn.
Bet365 Cambridgeshire Current Best Odds
Good Birthday and Le Don De Vie 15/2, Fifth Position 9/1, Lord North 10/1, Afaak and Bedouin’s Story 14/1, Jazeel, Majestic Dawn and Mordin 16/1, Beringer, Dubai Horizon, Chance and Dark Vision 25/1, Baltic Baron 28/1, Fajjaj and Petrus 33/1, Zhui Feng and Another Touch 40/1, History Writer, Korcho, Nicholas T, Queen of Time, Alternative Fact and Little Jo 50/1, Al Jellaby, Badenscoth, Cockalorum, Mulligatawny, Smile A Mile and You’re Hired 66/1, Isomer, Music Seeker and Zzoro 100/1
(Odds correct at 10.30am September 27)
