For the 2025 renewal, a final field of 23 was a little below the 30+ runner editions of 2023 and 2024. However, the Cambridgeshire looked as tricky as ever to solve.
In a typically open contest, the market ultimately settled on the Richard Hughes-trained Real Gain as the favourite. The only course and distance winner in the line-up posted an encouraging prep when third at Goodwood and boasted solid claims for the Wathnan Racing team.
A pair of unexposed three-year-olds came next in the market. Hailing from the yard of Ed Walker, Fort George had the assistance of Oisin Murphy and had finished in the first three in his six previous outings. Fifth Column sported the Godolphin Blue and represented the John and Thady Gosden team. With five wins as a sole trainer, Gosden arrived as the most successful trainer in the history of the race.
The two classiest runners in the field made the trip to Newmarket from the North Yorkshire yard of Karl Burke. Representing the 2024 winning owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Boiling Point carried the top weight of 9st12lb. The mount of Clifford Lee stepped down in class, having lost out by a head in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York. Stablemate Thunder Run sat second in the weights and had previously shown a liking for big field handicaps with two wins at York.
Others to note included Treble Tee, who had headed the betting in the days leading up to the race; Urban Lion, who ran better than the result suggested in the Clipper Handicap; and the consistent Marhaba Ghaiyyath, who made his first start since a gelding operation.
Result
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- 1st – Boiling Point 14/1, Jockey: Clifford Lee, Trainer: Karl Burke
- 2nd – Indalo 20/1, Jockey: Jack Mitchell, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 3rd – Fort George 11/2, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Ed Walker
- 4th – Erzindjan 28/1, Jockey: Ray Dawson, Trainer: T J Kent
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £90,195
- 2nd – £42,297.50
- 3rd – £21,157.50
- 4th – £10,570
- 5th – £5,285
- 6th – £2,642.50
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £15.90
- Tote Places – 1st – £4, 2nd – £7.50, 3rd – £2.10
- Exacta – £462.40
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £291.95
- Trifecta – £7,227.10
- Tricast – £1801.37
Recap
As expected, the field split into two distinct groups soon after the stalls opened. Top weight carrier Boiling Point headed the smaller group of nine towards the far rail and held the overall lead. Mr Swivell and Marhaba Ghaiyyath sat on his heels. Real Gain grabbed the near-side rail in an effort to repeat the prominent racing style of his 2023 win over track and trip. Mister Winston, Ebt’s Guard, and Urban Lion were among those up with the near-side pace in the opening stages.
Approaching halfway, the far side group continued to hold the advantage, with Boiling Point around two lengths clear of Real Gain up the stands side rail. Thunder Run moved up to press his stablemate at the three-furlong pole, but his effort was short-lived, as was that of Sir Paul Ramsey, who travelled sweetly only to find little.
Inside the final two furlongs, Clifford Lee asked Boiling Point for more and received a willing response from his partner. Kicking a length clear of his group, he was now a widening three lengths clear of Real Gain, who looked like a sitting duck on the near side.
With a half furlong to go, Boiling Point was well clear but beginning to edge to his left. Fort George and Treble Tee emerged to give chase, but the big late threat arrived in the shape of the Roger Varian-trained Indalo. Quietly ridden in mid-pack on the far side, the four-year-old flew home, making up ground hand over fist as the line approached. Joining Boiling Point on the line, Indalo forced a photo. However, the bob of the heads favoured the long-time leader, as Boiling Point clung on by a nose. Fort George kept on for third, with Erzindjan faring best of the stands side group to take fourth.
So it was back-to-back Cambridgeshire wins for Karl Burke, Clifford Lee, and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who teamed up to win the race for the first time with Liberty Lane in 2024.
Runners
- 1. Boiling Point – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
- 2. Thunder Run – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Charles Bishop
- 3. Westridge – SP: 14/1, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Billy Loughnane
- 4. Savvy Victory – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Sean Woods, Jockey: Jack Callan
- 5. Cash – Non-runner
- 6. Ebt’s Guard – SP: 20/1, Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick, Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
- 7. Urban Lion – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Jack Channon, Jockey: Edward Greatrex
- 8. Erzindjan – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Terry Kent, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 9. Marhaba Ghaiyyath – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Connor Beasley
- 10. Fifth Column – SP: 11/2, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: William Buick
- 11. Greek Order – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Michael Bell, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 12. Treble Tee – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- 13. Real Gain – SP: 5/1F, Trainer: Richard Hughes, Jockey: James Doyle
- 14. Fort George – SP: 11/2, Trainer: Ed Walker, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 15. Tribal Chief – SP: 12/1, Trainer: David Menuisier, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 16. Mr Swivell – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Kevin Philippart De Foy, Jockey: Harry Davies
- 17. Great Chieftain – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Oliver Cole, Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
- 18. Treasure Time – SP: 12/1, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 19. Indalo – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Jack Mitchell
- 20. Silver Sword – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Dylan Cunha, Jockey: J F Egan
- 21. Mister Winston – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Nicola Currie
- 22. Divine Knight – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Sean Woods, Jockey: Marco Ghiani
- 23. Dutch Decoy – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Hollie Doyle
- 24. Sir Paul Ramsey – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Joe Fanning
Non-Runners
Cash (unsuitable ground)