Let’s have a crack at the Autumn Double
In days gone by, one of the biggest betting occasions of the year was the Autumn Double, the two big Flat handicaps run on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. Traditionally run in late-September, the nine furlong Cambridgeshire Handicap (scheduled this Saturday, 27th September) was the first leg in which thirty-five runners or more was the usual field size. Then two weeks later, the Cesarewitch Handicap over double the distance of two miles and two furlongs, was the second leg of the double, a race so long and with only one turn at halfway, it starts in the county of Cambridgeshire and ends in the county of Suffolk, writes Paul Alster.
Both races attract masses of runners so trying to pick two horses for an each-way double is no easy task, but here are my two early suggestions for this year’s Autumn Double.
The Bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap
At the time of writing, the final declarations have yet to be made so we cannot be certain who will and won’t run, but the track at HQ looks as though it will offer good ground making it a fairly level playing field for all contenders. Only two horses are offered at single figures; Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Treble Tee carries a 4lb penalty for his recent comfortable defeat of Cash (who may re-oppose) and he looks sure to go well once again. He has to race further than ever before so it will be interesting to see if he is as effective over Newmarket’s unique nine furlongs.
The only other horse quoted at present in single figures is Fifth Column (John & Thady Gosden), like Treble Tee trained locally at Newmarket. This very progressive three-year-old has won four of his six starts this campaign, and he won the race on his side of the track when seventh overall at Royal Ascot in June in the Britannia Handicap. His only slightly below-par effort came at Glorious Goodwood where he ran fifth on soft ground in the Coral Golden Mile won by the indomitable Goodwood specialist Rhoscolyn. In all, Fifth Column has gone up 16lb so far this season so he needs to improve again to land the spoils and is another who is untested beyond a bare mile. He is very much respected though.
My choice: There are any number of horses with chances in this massive cavalry charge, but I believe the David Menuisier-trained TRIBAL CHIEF (currently a top price 14/1 each-way chance) should go really well. The four-year-old was runner-up to the vastly improved Bullet Point both on his final start of 2024 and first outing of 2025, then after failing to stay a mile-and-a-quarter at Longchamp in the spring was unlucky-in-running in a decent event at Newcastle in late-June. He ran well but was out of the frame on soft ground in the Golden Mile before winning with a bit in hand last time back at Goodwood on Good to Firm ground, holding Treble Tee with a little more authority than the bare winning half-length margin indicates.
I think TRIBAL CHIEF can confirm form with his old rival and at double the odds looks much the better value of the pair.
The Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap
The second leg of the Autumn Double takes place back at the Rowley Mile track at Newmarket on Saturday, 11th October. Last year’s winner Alphonse Le Grand (Tony Martin) is likely to bid for back-to-back successes off a 6lb higher mark than when defeating Manxman by a nose twelve months ago. A thorough stayer, he has only been beaten three lengths in each of his last two starts in good handicap company and has surely been trained with this race very much top of his priority list. He could once again be a danger to all.
The general 6/1 ante-post favourite is the James Owen-trained East India Dock, a very classy dual-purpose performer who was a fine third in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He changed codes a couple of months later to get up late to land the coveted Chester Cup on the Roodee in May, and hasn’t run since finishing a creditable sixth in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June. He has been declared for a Newmarket listed race on September 25 but may still have the Cesarewitch in his sights.
The controversial Irish yard of Charles Byrnes is represented by Reverend Hubert, whose price has tumbled from a bit of early, long-range 33/1 in the ante-post market, to a current rock solid 8/1 second-favourite. The seven-year-old ran away with the Cesarewitch Trial over the course and distance on September 20, putting eight lengths between himself and the runner-up, Chutzpal. With the weights for the race having been framed some time before, Reverend Hubert is set to carry just a 4lb penalty and is probably a few pounds ahead of the handicapper.
The early closing of this race has also greatly favoured the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Pendragon who ran a great race when stepping out of handicap company for the first time to chase home the quirky but very talented Sweet William in the recent Group 2 Doncaster Cup. He has been raised 12lb to a new mark of 109 for that big step forward, but is able to run in the Cesarewitch off his previous mark of 97. In theory, he has plenty in hand so a sustained gamble leading up to the big race would not surprise.
My choice: Without knowing what ground conditions the expected massive field of staying handicappers will face, the versatile NURBURGRING, trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, looks sure to give his supporters a decent run for their money. The winner of the 2024 Galway Hurdle ran another great race when fourth to the exciting Caldwell Potter in the 2m4f novices handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, then failed by only a neck to win at Royal Ascot in June, finding only Ascending too good for him in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes Handicap.
A month later the gelded son of Zoffany landed a Killarney novice chase, then was pulled up at the Galway Plate last time out having been hampered early on, after which he was never in his comfort zone. Returning to the Flat and being a proven stayer at this trip, ground versatile and representing a top stable, NURBURGRING should not be far away and is currently a top priced 16/1 shot each-way.
Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for almost four decades as a commentator, journalist, presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.