Cesarewitch Handicap Runners 2024: Willie Mullins Eyes Fourth Newmarket Win Since 2018

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. Represents 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 needs 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 two-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
Comment: Last year’s winner of the race and will be looking to become the first ever ‘back-to-back’ Cesarewitch winner. Up just 5lbs for that win, but has only been out once since so needs to overcome a 321-day break. Is now also no spring chicken at 11 – the last winner of this age was Caracciola in 2008.

7. (8) Magellan Strait

J:Oisin Orr
T:Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Comment: Another flying the flag for Ireland, but trainer Joseph O’Brien is yet to win this race. Also need to improve on his recent 28th in the Irish Cesarewitch and doesn’t have a 5lb claimer on this time either.

8. (11) Sea Of Sands

J:William Buick
T:W P Mullins
Comment: Has been popular in the betting all week and will be looking to give Willie Mullins his fourth win in the race and if he can will become the joint all-time winning handler. Favourites only have an average record – 4 winners since 1993. Every chance after an easy win over hurdles at Listowel last time and Group performer in Germany. William Buick looking for first win in the race.

9. (5) Trooper Bisdee

J:Rhys Clutterbuck
T:Sir Mark Prescott Bt
Comment: Shrewd trainer Sir Mark Prescott has never won the Cesarewitch, but you feel it’s a prize he should have on his CV. His runner this year has a squeak too – having run 4th in the trial race here three weeks ago and gets in off the same rating, but has 7lbs in actual less racing weight to carry.

10. (16) Ndaawi

J:Jamie Spencer
T:Gordon Elliott
Comment: Another for the Gordon Elliott yard, who had the second in this race last year. Looks fairly treated on past form and jumping fans will remember him for running third in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Ridden by Jamie Spencer, who won this race way back in 2006 on the former Triumph Hurdle winner Detroit City.

11. (7) Evaluation

J:Rowan Scott
T:Lucinda Russell
Comment: Housed with the two-time Grand National winning yard of Lucinda Russell and not without a chance after a fair 5th (only beaten 2 1/2 lengths) last time at Doncaster. Off the same mark but has 11lbs less in racing weight and connections stick with the cheekpieces that were on for the first time in his most recent race.

12. (6) Spirit Mixer

J:Oisin Murphy
T:Andrew Balding
Comment: Andrew Balding’s dad (Ian) won this race in 2001 with Distant Prospect so there is family history despite Andrew yet to win the Cesarewitch. Comes here on a three-timer too – after two wins at Chester, but is up another 3lbs here. Oisin Murphy rides and looks for his second win in the race – having taken the pot in 2021 on Buzz.

13. (22) Aqwaam

J:Trevor Whelan
T:Ian Williams
Comment: Last seen back in May when running a fine 6th in the Chester Cup – beaten just 2 1/2 lengths. Gets in here off the same mark (90) but might be better on the AW – he’s won just once from 13 starts on the grass.

14. (20) Sixandahalf

J:Robert Whearty (3)
T:Gavin Cromwell
Comment: Fillies/Mares have a fair record in the Cesarewitch with 5 wins in the last 22. Hails from the Gavin Cromwell yard in Ireland, who are no strangers to coming to Britain to mop-up races. Was last seen running an excellent third in the Irish Cesarewitch and is only a pound higher on what will also only be her nineth career outing.

15. (3) Zealandia

J:J F Egan
T:Ian Williams
Comment: Last seen running 7th and beaten 17 lengths behind Spirit Mixer at Chester last month. Same mark here and despite a weight pull still seems to have a b it to find on that last run. Better ground is likely to suit though.

16. (19) Alphonse Le Grande

J:Jamie Powell (3)
T:Mrs C O’Leary
Comment: 8th in the Irish Cesarewitch last time out – beaten just over 8 lengths. Same mark but a 3lb claimer on this time will help but better form has been on the AW (4 wins).

17. (1) Shagpyle

J:Frederick Larson (3)
T:William Muir & Chris Grassick
Comment: Last of 11 in the trial here three weeks ago and is only being helped with jockey Frederick Larson riding now to claim 3lbs. Better also with a bit of cut in the ground.

18. (4) Manxman

J:Sean D Bowen (3)
T:Simon & Ed Crisford
Comment: Has won 50% of his 10 turf starts and but also won on the AW last time at Southwell. The form of that win has since been franked too, with the runner-up bolting up since and the 4lb rise in the ratings is mostly offset with jockey Sean Bowen’s 3lb claim. Looks to have a leading chance as we know he also stays – having won over 2m1f on the flat last season.

19. (17) Anna Bunina

J:Tom Kiely-Marshall (5)
T:John C McConnell
Comment: Trainer has given a positive word for the horse and is another mare in the race. Ran okay last time over hurdles at Bellewstown in Ireland and flat form is useful with 5 wins and 8 three top finishes from 13 starts. Connections are also putting up a 5lb claimer to help.

20. (10) Premiere Ligne

J:Jack Doughty (5)
T:Hughie Morrison
Comment: Runner-up in the trial here three weeks ago after travelling well for much of the race – just got outstayed in the dying strides. The top two pulled 7 lengths clear of the rest though and connections are helping by booking useful 5lb claimer Jack Doughthy. First time blinkers too expected to help and the yard won this in 2016.

21. (13) Bashful Boy

J:Josephine Gordon
T:David Pipe
Comment: Martin Pipe won this twice back in 2000 and 2002, but son David is yet to get on the scoresheet. Fair hurdler (4 time winner) and fit from running over the sticks of late. But on a run of 13 races (both codes) without a victory.

22. (14) Jacovec Cavern

J:Hayley Turner
T:Emmet Mullins
Comment: From last year’s winning yard and has been the subject of support in the market all week. Hayley Turner will be looking to become the first winning female rider in the race and brings some solid hurdles form to the table – having twice behind Lossiemouth last season, albeit well beaten each time.

23. (21) Story Horse

J:Tyler Heard
T:William Knight
Comment: 5th in the trial here three weeks ago and gets in off a pound lower and races with 8lbs less in actual racing weight. Not without a chance on that evidence as long as the ground doesn’t get too soft.

24. (12) Reverend Hubert

J:Sean Davis
T:C Byrnes
Comment: Another in the race for the 2022 winning yard of Charles Byrnes and interesting with just 8-2 in weight to carry. Yard are also 2-2 at the track and heads here fitter than most after a spell summer jumping .

25. (24) Lady Percival

J:Connor Planas (3)
T:Hughie Morrison
Comment: Second runner in the race for trainer Hughie Morrison – she gets in with a featherweight (8-2) and stayed on well over 2m at Kempton last time out to suggest this slightly longer trip will suit. Lively outsider from a yard that have won this race before.

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