The Betfred Cambirdgeshire has a long history but no horse has ever won it three times. Bronze Angel would be making history, therefore, if successful this year. The 2012 and 2014 winner is 9lb higher than when winning 12 months ago having picked up a 4lb penalty for a recent defeat of the consistent Birdman (a general 25/1) at Doncaster. But apprentice Louis Steward claims back 3lb of that and bookmakers are taking no chances with Marcus Tregoning‘s stable star, who is only a best 9/1 with Skybet, Paddy Power and betway and market leader. Blindly backing the favourite in the Cambridgeshire over the last 25 years would have returned you a near 30-point profit, however, and who’s to say Bronze Angel won’t write himself into the record books.
Educate won the race in 2013 and is better than his general 25/1 this time would suggest while Energia Davos (28/1 with BetVictor) would have gone into many notebooks when making a winning reappearance at Ascot. He’s already a seven-year-old, however, and they have a terrible record in the Cambridgeshire – drying ground has also lessened his chances.
Easier going would also have suited York winner My Dream Boat (25/1 with Coral) and Irish raider Portage (a general 10/1) but Musaddas (a general 25/1) goes on the short-list as it was good going when he won over a mile at Newmarket in May and when second to Birdman at York later.
Gm Hopkins (a general 12/1) won the Cambridgeshire consolation race 12 months ago and also took the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, though is still 6lb higher. Halation (25/1 with sportingbet) beat Earth Drummer (16/1 with sportingbet and on betfair) and Master The World (a general 33/1) at Ascot last month but then finished behind Forgotten Hero over further at Doncaster. Charlie Hills‘ charge is no forlorn hope at Newmarket at Ladbrokes‘ 40/1 as he’ll get the strong pace he needs while Master Carpenter (28/1 with Stan James) could run well despite his big weight.
ABSEIL ticks a lot of boxes and Sir Michael Stoute has probably kept him back for this after a couple of runs at the start of the summer. It’s a bonus that Ryan Moore has come back just in time to partner the five-year-old, who has always looked capable of winning a race like this. He often finds trouble in-running but that shouldn’t be an excuse on the wide-open spaces of the Rowley Mile and while the general 14/1 is short enough given his absence, he might still be the value.
