My beloved late father, who was responsible for my love of horse racing, made an annual attempt to land the so-called ‘autumn double’: the two big Newmarket’s handicaps run towards the tail-end of the Flat season. For the best part of half a century, I have followed his lead with a fair degree of success in both contests but never landing the double at the same time.
The duo of races involved are the Cambridgeshire, a ‘cavalry charge’ run over a mile and one furlong on Newmarket’s straight course, and the Cesarewitch, run over twice that distance at the same track. Because of their large fields, both races are usually run at a fast pace and so it is essential to have horses that are true stayers over the very different distances of both races.
This year the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap will take place on Saturday October 14 and it is my favourite big-race handicap of the season.
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