The Cesarewitch Handicap runners for 2024 are in – with 25 horses heading to post in search of the £90k first prize at Newmarket on Saturday. Of these entries we’ve another strong Irish presence in this valuable handicap – a prize Ireland have won five times in the last six years.
Willie Mullins Looking For Cesarewitch Winner Number Four
Remarkably top Irish jumps trainer Willie Mullins needs just one more winner in Saturday’s Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket to become the joint all-time winning stable – he’ll join William Day and Mathew Dawson, who both guided home four winners in the 1800’s.
This Mullins run in this competitive autumn handicap also started just six years ago when Low Sun won in 2018 and since then the Closutton maestro has fired in two more winners – Stratum (2019) and Great White Shark (2020).
He’s back for more in 2024 too as the Willie Mullins Cesarewitch runner that punters are sure to latch onto is Sea The Sands.
This 6 year-old will also be ridden by William Buick, who Mullins turns to a lot when he’s got horse racing runners in the UK.
Buick also rode Lot Of Joy (6/1 fav) for Mullins in the race last year but was down the field in 11th and will be looking for his first win in the Cesarewitch.
Sea The Sands has been well backed all week with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK too and after a facile win over hurdles at Listowel last month it’s not hard to see why.
That win was his first run for Willie Mullins since coming over from Germany, where he won twice on the flat. Including running 7th in 2021 to the 2022 Arc winner Alpinista in a Group One in Cologne
2024 Cesarewitch Handicap Runners See The Last Two Winners Back For More
This year’s Cesarewitch runners will also include the winners of the last two renewals – The Shunter and Run For Oscar.
The former took the prize for Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins in 2023 and is back on just a 5lb higher mark with last year’s jockey James Doyle also booked again.
This 11 year-old will, however, be looking to become the first EVER back-to-back winner of the Cesarewitch since the contest was first run in 1839.
Run For Oscar grabbed the Cesarewitch headlines in 2022 and also returns.
The Charles Byrnes runner has run 16 times since – winning just the once, which came at Kilbeggan in August over hurdles.
He’ll be back on a 13lb higher mark but does have recent Arc-winning rider Rossa Ryan getting the leg-up.
The 9 year-old will be looking to do what Aaim To Prosper did in 2010 and 2012 – by winning back his Cesarewitch title with a year gap in between.
You can also get all the key Cesarewitch Handicap trends to help put history on your side.
Cesarewitch Handicap Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 12th October 2024
⌚Time: 3:40pm
🏇Racecourse: Newmarket
💰Winning Purse: £90,195.00
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Cesarewitch Handicap Runners 2024 In Full – A Look At All 25 Entries
See below the final 2024 Cesarewitch Handicap runners – including racecard number, draw (in brackets), jockey and trainer
1 (25) Queenstown
J:Ryan Moore
T:A P O’Brien
Comments: Will be looking to give top Irish trainer AP O’Brien his first win in the race, but second for Ryan Moore (won in 2002). 17th in the Ebor last time but before that ran second behind the classy stayer Kyprios twice. Top rated in the field, but a lot of weight as a result – the last horse to win with 9-12 or more was in 1976.
2 (9) Samui
J:Keithen Kennedy (5)
T:Gordon Elliott
Comment: Consistent profile and hails from the top Irish yard of Gordon Elliott, who are looking for their first success in this race. Another with a lot of weight (9-10) but this is a drop in grade having been running well at Listed level at Newmarket and Chester the last twice.
3 (18) Dawn Rising
J:Tom Marquand
T:Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Comment: Last seen running 5th in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh just 2 weeks ago. Up 2lb for that run and with it coming off a 99-day break could have more to come. Reprsents last year’s winning owner JP McManus.
4. (23) Roberto Escobarr
J:Marco Ghiani
T:Ian Williams
Comment: Formerly trained by William Haggas and won the 2023 Italian St Leger (G3). But has lost his way a bit since with five average efforts so nees to bounce back.
5. (2) Run For Oscar
J:Rossa Ryan
T:C Byrnes
Comment: Won this race in 2022 and will be looking to become only the second 2-time Cesarewitch winner. Is, however, rated 13lbs more this time and has only won once since (from 16) races. On a plus, recent Arc-winning jockey Rossa Ryan rides and trainer Charles Byrnes is 2-from-2 at the track.
6. (15) The Shunter
J:James Doyle
T:Emmet Mullins
7. (8) Magellan Strait
J:Oisin Orr
T:Joseph Patrick O’Brien
8. (11) Sea Of Sands
J:William Buick
T:W P Mullins
9. (5) Trooper Bisdee
J:Rhys Clutterbuck
T:Sir Mark Prescott Bt
10. (16) Ndaawi
J:Jamie Spencer
T:Gordon Elliott
11. (7) Evaluation
J:Rowan Scott
T:Lucinda Russell
12. (6) Spirit Mixer
J:Oisin Murphy
T:Andrew Balding
13. (22) Aqwaam
J:Trevor Whelan
T:Ian Williams
14. (20) Sixandahalf
J:Robert Whearty (3)
T:Gavin Cromwell
15. (3) Zealandia
J:J F Egan
T:Ian Williams
16. (19) Alphonse Le Grande
J:Jamie Powell (3)
T:Mrs C O’Leary
17. (1) Shagpyle
J:Frederick Larson (3)
T:William Muir & Chris Grassick
18. (4) Manxman
J:Sean D Bowen (3)
T:Simon & Ed Crisford
19. (17) Anna Bunina
J:Tom Kiely-Marshall (5)
T:John C McConnell
20. (10) Premiere Ligne
J:Jack Doughty (5)
T:Hughie Morrison
21. (13) Bashful Boy
J:Josephine Gordon
T:David Pipe
22. (14) Jacovec Cavern
J:Hayley Turner
T:Emmet Mullins
23. (21) Story Horse
J:Tyler Heard
T:William Knight
24. (12) Reverend Hubert
J:Sean Davis
T:C Byrnes
25. (24) Lady Percival
J:Connor Planas (3)
T:Hughie Morrison
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