Future Champions Weekend -12th & 13th October 2018

Future Champions Weekend – The Cesarewitch Handicap

This week sees one of the most important season ending meetings in the British racing calendar with the Friday and Saturday of “Future Champions Weekend” featuring The Cesarewitch Handicap on Saturday.

This is where the classic stars of 2019 will be strutting their stuff and we are sure to see some great performances with strong representatives from the all conquering O’Brien and Gosden stables.

As well as all of the top class group action, Saturday sees the running of the 179th Cesarewitch handicap which is the race of two counties with the race starting in Cambridgeshire and finishing in Suffolk. The 2 miles and 2 furlongs provides one of the biggest tests of stamina on the flat racing calendar and is always a massively competitive race with 34 horses due to go to post on Saturday at 3.40 pm.

The History Of The Cesarewitch Handicap

“Cesarewitch” is an anglicised version of Tsesarevich, the title of the heir to the throne in Imperial Russia. The Cesarewitch was named in honour of the Tsar Tsesarevich Alexander after he donated the princely sum £300 to the Jockey Club.

The event was first run in 1839, and was won by a horse called Cruiskeen. It was founded the same year as the other major handicap at Newmarket which forms the Autumn Double, the Cambridgeshire, with John Gosden and Frankie Dettori having already won the Cambridgeshire a couple of weeks ago.

The Cesarewitch initially took place before the Cambridgeshire, but the schedule was reversed and it is now held two weeks later.

Three horses completed the Autumn Double in the 19th century, those being: Rosebery (1876), Foxhall (1881) and Plaisanterie (1885)

The race was formerly staged during Newmarket’s Champions’ Day meeting in mid-October but became part of Future Champions Day in 2011. In 2014 the Cesarewitch was separated from Future Champions Day but returned in 2015 and is run on the Saturday of the new Future Champions Festival.

The Cesarewitch – Five interesting stats and facts

1. The last five running’s of the race have been won by horses carrying 8st 8 lbs or less.
2. The last 6 running’s have seen 3 horses win at 50/1 or bigger.
3. Mark Johnston is the most successful modern day trainer with 3 winners in the last twenty years.
4. Six of the last ten winners have carried between 8st 6 lbs and 8st 11 lbs
5. Jumps trainers have won 50% of the last 12 running’s of the race with Philip Hobbs saddling two winners (33% of those)

Future Champions Day Racecards

Friday 12th October

13:50 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) (2yo, Class 1, 5f, 14 runners)

14:25 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Fillies’ Group 3) (2yo, Class 1, 7f, 8 runners)

15:00 Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+, Class 1, 7f, 8 runners)

15:35 bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) (2yo, Class 1, 1m, 8 runners)

16:10 bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3yo, Class 2, 1m 4f, 11 runners)

16:45 Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Plus 10) (Div 1) (2yo, Class 3, 7f, 13 runners)

17:20 Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Plus 10) (Div 2) (2yo, Class 3, 7f, 13 runners)

17:55 Jumeirah Al Qasr Pride Stakes (Listed) (Fillies And Mares) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 2f, 10 runners)

Saturday 13th October

13:50 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes (Listed) (2yo, Class 1, 1m 2f, 7 runners)

14:25 Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (Group 3) (2yo, Class 1, 1m, 9 runners)

15:00 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) (2yo, Class 1, 7f, 7 runners)

15:40 Dubai 500,000 Cesarewitch Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (3yo+, Class 2, 2m 2f, 36 runners)

16:15 Mydubai Nursery (2yo, Class 2, 7f, 9 runners)

16:50 Dubai Life British EBF Boadicea Stakes (Fillies’ and Mares’ Listed) (3yo+, Class 1, 6f, 19 runners)

17:25 Darley Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 1f, 9 runners)

Future Champions Weekend Betting Analysis and Tips – Friday

Friday features one of  the highlight of the two days which is the Group 1 fillies mile for 2 year old’s and this will be a pointer to next years 1000 Guineas and Oaks.

Aiden O’Brien has won this race five times and after a hat-trick of successes his September went down by a nose last year to the exceptional filly of 2018 LAURENS. His two runners are very closely matched overall but HERMOSA was victorious the last time the pair met and gets the vote from that stable.

Antonia De Vega was very impressive at Goodwood and looks sure to improve considerably now upped to 1m so she merits respect. PRETTY POLLYANNA undoubtedly has the best form in the race and she is taken to come out on top.

DAY 1 Selection

Our selection for day one runs in the 5.55 race at NEWMARKET and we are going with MAID TO REMEMBER at 10/1 EW with William Hill and Coral.

Fourth and third in Group Three’s for this yard in first two starts over 1m2f and combination of rise in grade and step up in trip were the reason for a poor performance in between. Now dropped in trip and class, looks sure to be in the firing line at the business end of the race.

Future Champions Weekend Betting Analysis and Tips – Saturday

Saturday features the highlight of the two days which is the second leg of “The Autumn Double” and yopu will have seen some of the stats about the race earlier. The race is always run at a frenetic gallop and needs a true stayer. Usually the race is won by a well handicapped and unexposed horse from a low weight but this year could be different.

DAY 2 Selection

Our selection for The Cesarewitch at 3.40 is TOP TUG at 40/1 EW with Paddy Power, who are BOG (best odds guaranteed) and make sure to look out for bookmakers paying six and seven places on each way bets.

Has been in very decent form and the step up in trip looks a real plus point. Trained by Alan King, who won this race recently with Grumeti, Top Tug has the assistance of excellent 3 lb claimer Nicola Currie and a big run can be expected for a horse that is dropping down in class after being beaten just a length and half in Listed class last time.