It is with good reason that the Cambridgeshire venue of Newmarket is known as the headquarters of the flat racing game. Home to many of the nation’s leading training establishments, the area also houses one of the most famous racecourses in the world.
Providing the stage for an impressive nine Group 1 contests, including the Classics of the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the history of racing at the track is littered with memorable moments. However, it’s not all about the top-tier action. Newmarket also plays a prominent role on the handicap scene, with a host of valuable contests taking place at the track.
Two of the most famous Newmarket handicaps light up the latter stages of the flat season. Known as “The Autumn Double”, the Cesarewitch Handicap and Cambridgeshire Handicap provide tempting late-season targets before the leading turf handicappers head off for their winter break.
Held in September each year, the 1m1f Cambridgeshire is the first leg of the autumn double. Regularly attracting 30+ runners, this race captures the imagination of puzzle-solving punters and often falls to a runner who subsequently proves their worth at a higher level. The pick of those to come home in front in the current century is 2019 champ Lord North, who progressed to win four times in Group 1 company.
2025 - Boiling Point
Boiling Point edged out Indalo by the narrowest of margins to claim a dramatic race at Newmarket. Carrying top weight, the 14/1 chance followed in the footsteps of stablemate and last year’s winner, Liberty Lane, to defy the burden. Clifford Lee sent his mount into contention at the right moment before just holding off the fast-finishing Indalo by a nose, with the winning post arriving in the nick of time. The victory secured back-to-back wins in the race for trainer Karl Burke and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.
- 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
2024 - Liberty Lane
Liberty Lane defied top weight in emphatic fashion to win this event, beating a 31-runner field by nearly three lengths. Drawn in stall four, he benefited from racing on the far side as low numbers dominated, with the first seven home all emerging from stall 11 or lower. The result bucked a recent trend that had seen the previous eight winners emerge from high draws (stalls 20+). Although jockey Clifford Lee briefly feared the stands' side held the advantage, his decision to stay low proved decisive.
- 1st - Liberty Lane 8/1, Jockey: Clifford Lee, Trainer: Karl Burke
- 2nd - James McHenry 20/1, Jockey: Callum Rodriguez, Trainer: Edward Bethell
- 3rd - Toimy Son 28/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: David Menuisier
2023 - Astro King
Astro King produced a powerful late surge to land the race in 2023 despite carrying a record-breaking 9st 12lb top weight. The large field split into three groups, with those nearest the stands' rail holding the strongest position in the closing stages. Favourite Greek Order finally found daylight and launched his challenge, but Richard Kingscote's mount found another gear to score by half a length. The victory eclipsed the previous highest winning weight in the race's history and completed a memorable 90-1 double on the card for Kingscote.
- 1st - Astro King 20/1, Jockey: Richard Kingscote, Trainer: Daniel & Clare Kubler
- 2nd - Greek Order 5/2F, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Harry & Roger Charlton
- 3rd - Bopedro 16/1, Jockey: Daniel Tudhope, Trainer: David O’Meara
2022 - Majestic
Majestic (not to be confused with 2020 winner Majestic Dawn) completed a remarkable rise by capturing this just months after making his racecourse debut in a bumper. The 25/1 outsider appeared to have plenty to do entering the closing stages, but Aidan Keeley timed his challenge perfectly to storm past the leaders over the final 50 yards and win by a length and a quarter. It was a memorable success for the young jockey, who was riding at Newmarket for the first time, while his grandfather Brian Rouse had also enjoyed Cambridgeshire glory in 1978 and 1980.
- 1st - Majestic 25/1, Jockey: Aidan Keeley, Trainer: Mick Channon
- 2nd - Bell Rock 16/1, Jockey: Callum Hutchinson, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 3rd - Dual Identity 12/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: William Knight
2021 - Bedouin’s Story
Patience proved the key as Bedouin's Story came from the back of the field to spring a 40/1 surprise in this contest. Jamie Spencer bided his time throughout before spotting a gap emerging out of the dip, threading his mount through at precisely the right moment. The pair swept past favourite Anmaat to score by three-quarters of a length, delivering another trademark hold-up ride from Spencer. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor praised the jockey afterwards, acknowledging few riders were better suited to such waiting tactics.
- 1st - Bedouin’s Story 40/1, Jockey: Jamie Spencer, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
- 2nd - Anmaat 11/2J, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 3rd - Ametist 22/1, Jockey: David Probert, Trainer: William Haggas
2020 - Majestic Dawn
Majestic Dawn transformed one of the season's most competitive handicaps into a one-sided affair with a dominant display at Newmarket. The ease of his win was all the more surprising given he was sent off a 40/1 outsider after finishing last on his only previous outing that year. The Paul and Oliver Cole-trained gelding enjoyed the stands' side rail before pulling clear over the final quarter mile. He crossed the line more than four lengths ahead of his rivals, handing Paul Hanagan his biggest victory since returning from a serious back injury that had threatened his career.
- 1st - Majestic Dawn 40/1, Jockey: Paul Hanagan, Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
- 2nd - Lucander 18/1, Jockey: Harry Bentley, Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- 3rd - Bell Rock 10/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy., Trainer: Andrew Balding
2019 - Lord North
Lord North announced himself as a future Group 1 performer with an impressive victory here in 2019. Frankie Dettori produced the three-year-old with a perfectly timed challenge, reeling in Beringer close home before pulling over four lengths clear of the third horse, Good Birthday. It was Dettori's third success in the race and second in a row. It was yet another polished ride from the legendary Italian, while the lightly raced winner went on to justify his jockey's belief that he had much bigger prizes ahead, including multiple victories in the Dubai Turf.
- 1st - Lord North 9/2F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Beringer 16/1, Jockey: Thore Hammer Hansen, Trainer: Alan King
- 3rd - Good Birthday 9/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Andrew Balding
2018 - Wissahickon
Frankie Dettori ended a 24-year wait for another Cambridgeshire Handicap victory with an accomplished ride aboard Wissahickon. Settled towards the rear of the far-side group, the John Gosden-trained gelding made smooth headway before taking control approaching the final furlong and pulling three and three-quarter lengths clear. The temperamental gelding almost caused chaos before the race, trampling on groom Asif Nazir's foot while trying to avoid Dettori mounting. Fortunately for connections, his antics were quickly forgotten once the stalls opened.
- 1st - Wissahickon 11/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Mordin 16/1, Jockey: Pat Cosgrave, Trainer: Simon Crisford
- 3rd - Via Via 33/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: James Tate
2017 - Dolphin Vista
A year after being withdrawn from the race because of unsuitable ground, Dolphin Vista returned to gain compensation with a 50/1 upset. Apprentice George Wood delivered a well-timed late challenge to secure the biggest victory of Martyn Meade's training career, finishing a length and a half clear of fellow outsiders Sands Chorus and Cote D'Azur. Punters were left stunned as the first three home all started at big odds, including runner-up Sands Chorus at the massive price of 100/1.
- 1st - Dolphin Vista 50/1, Jockey: George Wood, Trainer: Martyn Meade
- 2nd - Sands Chorus 100/1, Jockey: Barry McHugh, Trainer: James Given
- 3rd - Cote D’Azur 50/1, Jockey: Paul Hanagan, Trainer: Les Eyre
2016 - Spark Plug
Spark Plug charged home along the stands' rail to provide Jimmy Fortune with his second victory in this contest. After being held up through the early stages, the 12/1 chance briefly found himself short of room before quickening smartly inside the final furlong. Once in front, he pulled clear to win by two and a quarter lengths, making full use of a favourable high draw. The decisive finishing effort capped a polished ride and denied Saeed bin Suroor a one-two, with Carry On Deryck having to settle for second ahead of stablemate Very Talented.
- 1st - Spark Plug 12/1, Jockey: Jimmy Fortune, Trainer: Brian Meehan
- 2nd - Carry On Deryck 20/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
- 3rd - Very Talented 11/1, Jockey: Kevin Stott, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
2015
- 1st - Third Time Lucky 14/1, Jockey: Adam Beschizza, Trainer: Richard Fahey
- 2nd - Master The World 25/1, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa, Trainer: David Elsworth
- 3rd - Examiner 50/1, Jockey: Harry Bentley, Trainer: Stuart Williams