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The first leg of the Newmarket autumn handicap double takes place this Saturday. Sponsored by Bet365, The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a prestigious but mighty competitive cavalry charge over the distance of an extended mile.
We check out the best bets and best odds from our partner firms: Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports. Five selections are assessed based on their current market value: two from the well fancied horses, two from 14-20/1 range and we check out the best value priced each way outsider!
For those of you who have accounts or are new customers with Betfred, this firm are currently paying 5 places (instead of 4) for each way bets.
The Bet 365 Cambridgeshire Handicap, 1540 Newmarket, Saturday 24th September
Protagonist
Unsurprisingly, considering the season his team are having, William Haggas trains the first two in the betting. Although Mujtaba (6/1 Betfred, paying 5 places) is the current market leader based on his recent handicap win at Doncaster, we prefer the look of second favourite, Protagonist.
He is very much in form with 2 straight handicap wins in his last two outings. He races mainly around 1m 2 furlongs, but he will have no issues with the reduction in distance.
He is also well handicapped, racing at a generous mark of 97 and has been very well backed in recent days, now trading at 8/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor and Boylesports), in from 16/1.
Savvy Victory
Another entry doing well with the handicapper is the Sean Woods trained Savvy Victory. He was beaten by Protagonist by a short head but followed up with a comfortable win in a Goodwood handicap. He also meets Protagonist on 2ibs better terms and comes into this on a good performance in a listed event over 1 mile 2 furlongs back in May where things didn’t go his way but still managed to finish a decent third.
Can improve enough top figure here at 10/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Boylesports)
Kitsune Power
The Roger Varian stable is red hot at the moment after having clinched the St Leger on Eldar Eldarov and landing an unprecedented 6 timer last weekend which also included the winner of the Ayr Silver Cup.
The yard has entered Kitsune Power for this race and the 3-year-old has chances based on a consistent ability to finish well in his races. The yard is all the rage at the present time so the 16/1 (William Hill) currently on offer looks good each way value.
Totally Charming
This George Boughey trained 4 year has picked up some hefty prize money this season having landed valuable handicaps at Epsom and Lingfield.
He did not get things his own way in the Royal Hunt Cup last time at Ascot when he did not quicken when pushed for space in the final 2 furlongs. This race may well suit better and his consistency this season is certainly a factor to be taken into consideration. The jockey booking of William Buick is also a major plus point. 14/1 best with William Hill.
Carolus Magnus
Going further down the handicap, one cannot help noticing the form details behind Andrew Balding’s Carolus Magnus. In each of his last three starts, the four-year-old has been slowly away or dwelt in the stalls. Not one to shortlist you might think, but on closer inspection of the form, the horse has managed to finish well in each of those races getting within 1 to 2 lengths of the winner in third.
Therefore, the horse has escaped the handicapper’s attention and if connections have worked on the horse’s issues with race starts, this entry could be very unexposed indeed. Could be good each way value at 33/1 with William Hill.
Verdict
William Haggas has a stranglehold on this race market wise by saddling the front two in the betting, through Protagonist and Mujtaba. However, this is a very wide-open big field handicap and extremely competitive.
If you were going by trainer form, then you would look no further than the Roger Varian trained Kitsune Power. However, looking for value is often the way to go with these types of contests and despite the horse’s difficulties with starting a race, a big chance can be taken with the 33/1 hope Carolus Magnus who could be anything if the horse ran a true race. 33/1 on offer with William Hill.
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (4pm 22nd September 2022) and are subject to change.
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