The Cesarewitch Handicap takes place at Newmarket on Saturday 10 October 2026. Run over two miles and two furlongs, it is one of Britain’s longest and most competitive Flat handicaps.
The race forms part of Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival and is the second leg of the traditional Autumn Double, following the Cambridgeshire Handicap in September.
The 2026 Cesarewitch has a guaranteed prize fund of £175,000 and a maximum field of 32 runners. Its combination of a long distance, a large field and Newmarket’s demanding finish makes stamina, handicap weights and the ability to settle particularly important.
Cesarewitch Handicap 2026: Key Race Information
| Detail | Cesarewitch Handicap 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 10 October 2026 |
| Racecourse | Newmarket, Rowley Mile |
| Scheduled off-time | 3.40pm, subject to change |
| Distance | 2 miles and 2 furlongs |
| Race type | Heritage Handicap |
| Race class | Class 2 |
| Age qualification | Three-year-olds and older |
| Guaranteed prize fund | £175,000 |
| Maximum field | 32 runners |
| Festival | Future Champions Festival |
The race begins on Newmarket’s Cesarewitch course before the runners join the Rowley Mile. That layout makes the contest different from an ordinary staying race run entirely around a conventional circuit.
The long trip gives horses time to find a position, but those that race too freely can use valuable energy well before the final stages.
For more information about the venue and its two courses, read our Newmarket Racecourse guide.
When Is the Cesarewitch Handicap 2026?
The Cesarewitch is scheduled for Saturday 10 October 2026, the second day of Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival.
The race shares the card with the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, one of the leading two-year-old races of the British Flat season.
The scheduled Cesarewitch off-time is 3.40pm. Check the final racecard closer to the meeting because race times can change.
Cesarewitch Handicap 2026 Runners and Weights
The early entries are not the final Cesarewitch field. Horses can be withdrawn before declarations, and the number of entries can exceed the maximum permitted field.
The 2026 race conditions allow up to 32 runners. The final declarations will establish which horses take part, their jockeys, weights and stall positions.
The published conditions include a minimum weight of 8st 2lb and a weight-for-age allowance of 9lb for three-year-olds against older horses. They also specify penalties for qualifying wins after 22 August 2026: 4lb for one win and 7lb for two wins.
Those details matter when assessing early entries. A horse’s published weight can change if it earns a penalty, while a lower-rated runner may need withdrawals from horses above it to secure a place in the final field.
How to Assess the Weights
The handicapper assigns each horse an official rating intended to reflect its ability. In a handicap, higher-rated horses generally carry more weight than lower-rated rivals.
The Cesarewitch adds another consideration because the runners must carry those weights over an extended distance.
A horse with a favourable handicap mark still needs sufficient stamina. A runner that appears well treated over a mile and six furlongs may not reproduce that form over two miles and two furlongs.
Check recent performances, the distance of those races and whether the horse has improved since its current mark was established.
Cesarewitch Handicap History
The Cesarewitch was first run in 1839 and is named after Tsarevich Alexander, the future Alexander II of Russia.
The race became one of the best-known betting events of the nineteenth century and developed a lasting association with the Cambridgeshire Handicap.
Together, the two races form Newmarket’s Autumn Double. The Cambridgeshire is run over approximately nine furlongs in September, while the Cesarewitch follows in October over two miles and two furlongs.
The difference in distance is central to the appeal of the double. The Cambridgeshire requires a blend of speed and stamina; the Cesarewitch places a much greater emphasis on staying ability.
The Cesarewitch is a Heritage Handicap, a category that recognises established handicaps with significant histories and positions in the racing calendar.
Its roll of honour includes specialist Flat stayers and horses that have also competed over hurdles. That crossover has become a notable feature of the race in recent years.
Cesarewitch Handicap Previous Winners
The table below includes the winners from 2013 to 2025.
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Beylerbeyi | 5 | Billy Loughnane | Ian Williams |
| 2024 | Alphonse Le Grande | 5 | Jamie Powell | Cathy O’Leary |
| 2023 | The Shunter | 10 | James Doyle | Emmet Mullins |
| 2022 | Run For Oscar | 7 | David Egan | Charles Byrnes |
| 2021 | Buzz | 7 | Oisin Murphy | Nicky Henderson |
| 2020 | Great White Shark | 6 | Jason Watson | Willie Mullins |
| 2019 | Stratum | 6 | Jason Watson | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 | Low Sun | 5 | Seamie Heffernan | Willie Mullins |
| 2017 | Withhold | 4 | Silvestre de Sousa | Roger Charlton |
| 2016 | Sweet Selection | 4 | Silvestre de Sousa | Hughie Morrison |
| 2015 | Grumeti | 7 | Adam Beschizza | Alan King |
| 2014 | Big Easy | 7 | Tom Queally | Philip Hobbs |
| 2013 | Scatter Dice | 4 | Silvestre de Sousa | Mark Johnston |
Beylerbeyi, 2025
Beylerbeyi won the 2025 Cesarewitch for Ian Williams and Billy Loughnane at 7/1.
The five-year-old carried 8st 11lb and defeated Dawn Rising by one and a quarter lengths. Bunting, trained by Willie Mullins, finished third.
The result was a reminder that the race is not restricted to horses from specialist jumps yards. Flat trainers with a suitable stayer can also prepare a Cesarewitch winner.
Alphonse Le Grande, 2024
Alphonse Le Grande crossed the line first in the 2024 Cesarewitch under apprentice Jamie Powell.
He was subsequently disqualified following a whip-rules review, and runner-up Manxman was initially awarded the race.
An independent appeal panel overturned the disqualification in November 2024. Alphonse Le Grande was reinstated as the official winner.
The final result matters when checking historical records. Lists published immediately after the original disqualification may incorrectly show Manxman as the winner.
The Shunter, 2023
The Shunter won the 2023 Cesarewitch for Emmet Mullins and James Doyle at the age of ten.
He had already demonstrated his versatility with success over jumps, including victory at the Cheltenham Festival.
His Cesarewitch win reinforced the importance of considering dual-purpose horses. A horse’s most relevant stamina evidence may come from a mixture of Flat races and hurdles, although the demands of the two disciplines are not identical.
Willie Mullins’ Three Consecutive Winners
Willie Mullins trained three consecutive Cesarewitch winners: Low Sun in 2018, Stratum in 2019 and Great White Shark in 2020.
The sequence demonstrated how effectively a leading jumps yard can prepare horses for a major Flat staying handicap.
Mullins’ runners are often familiar to National Hunt followers, but their hurdle form needs careful interpretation when assessing them on the Flat. Jumping ability does not determine whether a horse has a favourable Flat handicap mark or the speed required to win at Newmarket.
What Makes the Cesarewitch Course Different?
The Cesarewitch is run over an unusual two-mile-two-furlong course at Newmarket.
The runners begin away from the main Rowley Mile before joining the straight course for the finish. The race therefore combines a prolonged staying test with the demands of Newmarket’s final climb.
The course creates several questions for bettors.
A horse must settle well enough to conserve energy during the early stages. It also needs to maintain its position in a large field and respond when the pace increases.
The draw can influence how a race develops, but a stall number should not be assessed in isolation. The likely pace, the position of other runners and the horse’s usual racing style are all relevant.
Ground conditions can change the demands of the race further. Testing going increases the emphasis on stamina, while a sounder surface may suit horses capable of sustaining a stronger cruising speed.
Cesarewitch Betting Guide
Look for Proven Stamina
Two miles and two furlongs is a substantial test, particularly in a competitive handicap.
A horse that has won over two miles has relevant form, but the additional distance and Newmarket’s finish still need to be considered.
Look at how the horse completed its previous staying races. A runner that was finishing strongly may have more to offer over the Cesarewitch trip than one that weakened late.
Hurdle form can provide supporting evidence of stamina, but it should not replace an assessment of the horse’s Flat ability and handicap mark.
Assess the Handicap Mark
A low weight does not automatically make a horse well handicapped.
Compare the horse’s current official rating with the marks from which it has produced its strongest recent performances. Consider whether it has improved since those runs and whether its form is relevant to the Cesarewitch distance.
For a broader explanation of how ratings and weights affect major races, read our Heritage Handicaps guide.
Consider the Pace
A horse that pulls hard over two miles and two furlongs can make its task considerably harder.
The likely early pace matters, especially when several runners prefer to race prominently. A strong pace can help a horse that settles behind the leaders, provided it can obtain a clear run when the race develops.
Do not assume that a hold-up horse will benefit automatically. In a large field, it may need to make up considerable ground and navigate traffic.
Check the Going
The Cesarewitch takes place in October, when conditions can differ from those encountered during the summer.
Review each runner’s performances on the expected going. A horse that has produced its best form on good-to-firm ground may face a different stamina test if rain makes the surface soft.
The official going should be checked near race day rather than inferred from the time of year.
Compare Each-Way Terms
The Cesarewitch often attracts a large field, making each-way betting an important part of the market.
The number of places and the place fraction can vary between bookmakers. A bookmaker offering a shorter win price with additional places is not necessarily providing a better overall bet than one offering a bigger price with standard terms.
Compare the full return for the stake you intend to place. Our Best Bookmakers for Extra Places page explains the features to compare when looking at enhanced each-way markets.
Understand Ante-Post Betting
Early Cesarewitch markets may be available before the final field is known.
An ante-post price can change as horses complete their preparations, but ordinary ante-post bets generally lose if the selection does not run.
Check the market terms before placing an early bet. A horse entered in the Cesarewitch is not guaranteed to line up, and some runners may have alternative targets.
Cesarewitch Handicap Betting Trends
The recent winners show why the Cesarewitch should be assessed as a staying handicap rather than through a single historical trend.
The winners from 2018 to 2024 included several horses trained by National Hunt yards, while Beylerbeyi’s 2025 victory showed that an established Flat trainer can also win the race.
Age has not prevented experienced horses from succeeding. The Shunter won at ten in 2023, while Buzz and Run For Oscar were seven when successful in 2021 and 2022.
Recent results also show that the winner does not need to be the shortest-priced runner. Alphonse Le Grande won at a big price in 2024, while Beylerbeyi was returned at 7/1 in 2025.
These examples are useful context, not a formula for finding the next winner. Current form, handicap weights, likely pace, ground and the final field should carry more weight than a trend drawn from a small sample.
How to Watch the Cesarewitch Handicap 2026
The Cesarewitch is scheduled to feature in ITV’s racing coverage on Saturday 10 October 2026.
Racing TV also covers Newmarket. Check the confirmed television schedule closer to race day for broadcast times.
Some bookmakers provide live streams to eligible account holders. Streaming availability and qualifying conditions differ between operators.
Cesarewitch Handicap FAQs
When Is the Cesarewitch Handicap 2026?
The Cesarewitch takes place at Newmarket on Saturday 10 October 2026. Its scheduled off-time is 3.40pm, subject to change.
How Far Is the Cesarewitch Handicap?
The race is run over two miles and two furlongs.
How Many Horses Can Run in the 2026 Cesarewitch?
The published 2026 race conditions allow a maximum of 32 runners. The final field will be confirmed at the declaration stage.
How Much Is the Cesarewitch Worth in 2026?
The 2026 Cesarewitch has a guaranteed prize fund of £175,000.
Why Is the Cesarewitch Called the Cesarewitch?
The race is named after Tsarevich Alexander, the future Alexander II of Russia. It was first run in 1839.
What Is the Autumn Double?
The Autumn Double consists of the Cambridgeshire Handicap and Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket. The Cambridgeshire takes place in September, followed by the Cesarewitch in October.
Can Jump Horses Run in the Cesarewitch?
Yes. The Cesarewitch is a Flat race, but horses that also compete over hurdles can enter if they meet the race conditions. Willie Mullins trained three consecutive winners between 2018 and 2020.
Who Won the 2025 Cesarewitch?
Beylerbeyi won the 2025 Cesarewitch for Ian Williams and Billy Loughnane.
Who Is the Official Winner of the 2024 Cesarewitch?
Alphonse Le Grande is the official winner. His initial disqualification was overturned on appeal in November 2024.
Summary
The Cesarewitch Handicap takes place at Newmarket on Saturday 10 October 2026. The two-mile-two-furlong Heritage Handicap has a guaranteed prize fund of £175,000 and a maximum field of 32 runners.
The race’s unusual course and extended distance make stamina, the ability to settle and handicap weights central to assessing the field. Its recent history also highlights the success of dual-purpose horses, including Willie Mullins’ three consecutive winners from 2018 to 2020.
Check the final declarations, going, weights and each-way terms before placing a bet. Early entries and ante-post prices should not be mistaken for a confirmed race-day field.
