Hi Reader

The bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap is one of the most prestigious, competitive, and historic flat horse races in the British racing calendar.

Classified as a Heritage Handicap, it serves as the feature race on the final day of Newmarket's three-day Cambridgeshire Meeting on the famous straight Rowley Mile.

Race Overview & Profile

• Distance: 1 mile and 1 furlong run on a straight course.
• Eligibility: Open to horses aged three years old and upwards.
• Classification: Class 2 Heritage Handicap.
• Field Size: Noted for its massive, "bumper" field sizes, maximum of 35 runners.
• The Purse: As of 2026, the race features a prize fund of £200,000, with the winner taking home £103,080.

Historical Significance: The Autumn Double

Established in 1839, the Cambridgeshire was founded in the exact same year as another legendary Newmarket handicap, the Cesarewitch Handicap. Together, they became famously known as the "Autumn Double".

Let's get into today's preview and tips.

Cambridgeshire Tips: Hand of God to Guide Us Home

A field of twenty seven runners line up for the Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap at Newmarket.

Hand of God went close to winning the John Smith's Cup at York in July. Raammee drifted into his path and was on top in the end. That is red hot form with Raammee going on to win again in a heritage handicap at the Ebor festival off an eight-pound higher mark. Hand of God ran in France at Deauville at Group 3 level finishing sixth behind Wimbledon Hawkeye. That winner was a tad unlucky not to win the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Hand of God looks like a horse that will love a fast run mile and a furlong race on a galloping course like Newmarket. He is drawn high in stall 24 so hopefully there is enough pace high to keep tabs on those drawn in the lower numbers. This horse looked a proper pattern class horse when winning the Esher Cup Handicap at Sandown and Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old. He has returned this season running well and is the proverbial stakes horse in a handicap.

Harmonics flies the flag for the 3yo generation. They have a decent record in this race and won it back in 2018 & 2019 with both horses trained by John Gosden. The Gosdens run two three-year-olds with Gavriel the other one and favourite! Harmonics has more experience and needs a fast run handicap to show his best form. He didn’t get the breaks when a close fifth at Goodwood Kincsem Heritage Handicap won by Ciarrai Abu.

Bourbon Blues finished second that day and impeded the finish of Harmonics with Shane Foley having to sit up. He ran just fine at Windsor last time out when third in a group 3 race over ten furlongs. The handicapper has left him on a mark of 97 with a lovely low weight of 8-12. Harmonics only made it to the racecourse this season and is progressing all the time. A draw in stall 18 gives Shane Foley a choice to go left or right from the stalls.

The shortlist had three other horses with Gavriel too short, Thunder Run's best form elsewhere & Alcarath the last one to be dropped.

Newmarket 3:40

0.5 point each way Hand of God 10/1 Betfred, Boylesports, Unibet, PricedUp & Betway, 6 places.

0.5 point each way Harmonics 14/1 PricedUp else 12/1 generally, 6 places.

Best of Luck, Nicky.

Latest winner: Royal Zabeel @ 12/1

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