# Cesarewitch Handicap 2027: Racetimes, TV Coverage & Raceday Guide _The Cesarewitch at Newmarket: flat racing's ultra-long marathon handicap. Race times, ITV coverage, course notes and how to follow the runners._ *Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/cesarewitch-handicap/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/cesarewitch-handicap/) ยท last updated 2026-10-14* # Cesarewitch Handicap 2027 The **Cesarewitch Handicap** at Newmarket is flat racing's ultra-long marathon handicap: two miles and two furlongs on the Rowley Mile course. It starts out on the Heath in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk. It is one of the longest flat handicaps in Britain, and few handicaps have quite the same character. Run on the Saturday of Newmarket's October meeting (two weeks after the Cambridgeshire Handicap), the Cesarewitch is the second half of the traditional "Autumn Double" and a race where stayers, dual-purpose horses (flat + jumps) and chasers with a mark on both codes all collide. For the **2027 edition**, the scheduled raceday is **TBA**. Declared runners, going update and off-time are published on the morning of the race, and this page updates automatically as each detail is confirmed. ## At a glance - **Course**: Newmarket (Rowley Mile, starting at the Cesarewitch post) - **Distance**: 2 miles 2 furlongs - **Grade**: Heritage Handicap, Class 2 - **Broadcast**: ITV1 (free-to-air UK) - **First run**: 1839 The Cesarewitch and the Cambridgeshire together make up the "Autumn Double", historically one of the great British ante-post double bets of the racing year. Read on for the full 2027 race details, the history of the Cesarewitch, how to watch, and what Cesarewitch Saturday at Newmarket looks like. ## The 2026 result **Saturday 10 October 2026.** **Alphonse Le Grande (18/1, Patrick McGettigan, A J Martin)** won the **Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage) (GBBPlus Race)**, ahead of **Sea Lantern** and **Dawn Rising**, from 29 runners. Every finishing order and starting price from the day is on our [racing results for 10 October](/racing-results/2026-10-10/) page. ## 2027 race details # 2027 race details The 2027 Cesarewitch is scheduled for **TBA** at Newmarket (Rowley Mile), part of the two-day October Meeting. | Detail | Value | |---|---| | **Race date** | TBA | | **Off time** | TBA | | **Going** | TBA | | **Field size** | TBA | | **Distance** | 2 miles 2 furlongs | | **Grade** | Heritage Handicap (Class 2) | ### Trials and build-up Cesarewitch form pointers come from: - **Ebor at York** (August): the Ebor's 1m 6f trip is the classic Cesarewitch trial; many Ebor also-rans step up to 2m 2f and improve - **Cambridgeshire Meeting (two weeks earlier)**: the Cesarewitch frequently includes horses who ran over 1m 1f at the Cambridgeshire Meeting and have stepped up in trip The Cesarewitch is also one of the few British flat races that regularly attracts **dual-code runners**: horses with jumps form over 2m hurdles and 2m 4f chases who are campaigned on the flat for handicap opportunities. Final declarations (48-hour) are published on Thursday of race week. This page reflects the confirmed declared runners once they're posted. ### Ante-post markets Cesarewitch [ante-post books](/bookmakers/best-antepost-bookmakers-uk/) open in late August and narrow through the Cambridgeshire Meeting. The race draws a big field and big [each-way payouts](/bookmakers/each-way-extra-places-explained/): four places as standard, occasionally five. **Key angle**: a horse rated 90-100 with 2m+ stamina form, especially a dual-code runner with mixed hurdles/flat ratings, is the classic Cesarewitch template. ## History and notable winners # History and notable winners The Cesarewitch was first run in **1839**. The race takes its name from the **Tsesarevich**, the anglicised title of the heir to the Russian throne: specifically Alexander Nikolaevich, later Tsar Alexander II. It's one of the most historically resonant names in the flat calendar. ### The legends **Doug Smith** is the race's leading jockey, with six wins. **Willie Mullins** won it three years running with **Low Sun**, **Stratum** and **Great White Shark**. Jason Watson rode the last two. That treble set the modern pattern: jumps yards targeting the race with horses who have proper stamina and a fair flat mark. Other National Hunt trainers have followed the same route. **Nicky Henderson** won it with **Buzz**, **Alan King** with **Grumeti**, **Philip Hobbs** with **Big Easy**, **Charles Byrnes** with **Run For Oscar** and **Emmet Mullins** with **The Shunter**, who won it aged ten. Flat yards still win it too. **Sweet Selection** (Hughie Morrison) and **Withhold** (Roger Charlton) were both four-year-olds, and both were ridden by Silvestre de Sousa. ### What wins the Cesarewitch The Rowley Mile Cesarewitch course at 2m 2f rewards: - **Proper stamina**: this is one of the longest flat handicaps in Britain, and horses who "stay the extra" are the classic profile - **Soft-ground tolerance**: October ground at Newmarket can be testing, and horses with proven soft-ground form have an edge - **Handicap mark 85-100**: the sweet spot; top-weights carrying 9-7+ struggle to concede the weights over the marathon trip - **Jumps form is a positive**: dual-code horses regularly outrun their flat-only marks, and the Mullins treble is the template - **Age and experience**: every recent winner has been between four and ten years old - **Big-field race-craft**: a huge field over this trip makes it tactical; horses who can settle off a hot pace and finish strongly from midfield are the typical winners ### Recent roll of honour *This section updates after each year's running. See [/racing-news/](/racing-news/) for the most recent race result article.* ## TV coverage and how to watch # TV coverage and how to watch The 2027 Cesarewitch Handicap is live on **ITV1** (free-to-air in the UK). ### UK terrestrial: ITV1 and ITVX ITV Racing's Cesarewitch Day coverage typically runs **from approximately 1:30pm** on the Saturday of the two-day Newmarket October Meeting, carrying four races from Newmarket plus cross-course action from York's Future Stars meeting or Ascot. The Cesarewitch itself is traditionally the fourth race on the card, off around **3:35pm**; the exact off-time for 2027 is **TBA** once confirmed. ITVX carries the coverage live and on demand after the event, free to UK viewers. ### Racing TV **Racing TV** carries the full two-day October Meeting (Friday and Saturday, ~14 races total) with extensive pre- and post-race analysis. For ante-post and form-analysis detail through the meeting, Racing TV is the richer feed. Subscription or day-pass required. ### Sky Sports Racing Sky Sports Racing does **not** hold rights to the October Meeting. Newmarket's Rowley Mile is on Racing TV and ITV on this weekend. Sky Sports Racing will show the complementary Saturday fixtures (typically York or Ascot). ### International - **Ireland**: Racing TV (via UPC / Sky Ireland) or ITV if local rights apply. - **US**: Racing TV's American feed and some OTB providers carry British flat handicaps including the Cesarewitch. - **Australia**: Sky Thoroughbred Central carries selected UK autumn festivals; confirm with your provider. ### Replays ITVX (free) and Racing TV (subscriber archive) keep the race available on-demand. The Racing Post and ITV Racing's own YouTube channels usually post the race video within hours of the result. ### Off-time reminders Cesarewitch Day runs a packed seven-race card and the stalls handlers need extra time for the 34-runner field. Expect the advertised **TBA** to move by 2 or 3 minutes, which happens most years on Cesarewitch day. The race itself lasts over four minutes on typical good ground and closer to 4:30 on soft, so it is a long race to watch. ## Raceday at Newmarket (Cesarewitch Saturday) # Raceday at Newmarket (Cesarewitch Saturday) ### Getting there Newmarket Racecourse (Rowley Mile) is at **Rowley Mile, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 0TF**, in Suffolk, around 90 minutes by road from London and 30 minutes from Cambridge. The nearest station is **Newmarket** (Greater Anglia, 15 minutes' walk to the enclosure), with services from Cambridge and Ipswich. Drivers: A14 to Newmarket; Junction 37 for the Rowley Mile course. Free on-course parking plus paid reserved options closer to the entrance. ### The enclosures Three main tickets for the October Meeting: - **Premier Enclosure**: best viewing, covered seating, access to parade ring and winner's enclosure. Dress code applies. - **Grandstand & Paddock**: main public enclosure with excellent rail views and paddock access. - **The July Course picnic area**: different course, usually closed for the October Meeting; races are on the Rowley Mile only. Cesarewitch Saturday tickets are generally available in advance through thejockeyclub.co.uk. ### On the day - **Gates open** around 11:00am. - **First race** is usually 1:50pm to 2:00pm. - **The Cesarewitch** is race 4 on the card, typically off around **TBA**. - Parade ring is very busy 30 minutes before the Cesarewitch; the 34-runner field is a sight on its own. - **The start**: the Cesarewitch starts at the far end of the Rowley Mile, well away from the grandstand. The runners travel for the first mile and a half before they come into main view on the stands side, so bring binoculars or watch the big screen for the early part of the race. ### Dress code Premier Enclosure: smart casual (collared shirt for men, no ripped jeans or sportswear). Grandstand & Paddock: no dress code, but **dress warmly for October weather**. Newmarket in October can be crisp and cold with strong winds across the heath; scarf, gloves and a warm waterproof layer are essential. ### Food and drink Multiple food outlets on-course including traditional British gastropubs, the Rowley Mile restaurants, street-food traders, and premium hospitality packages. Bars across all enclosures. The Autumn Meeting restaurants get crowded mid-afternoon, so book hospitality in advance if food quality matters to you. ### Betting Tote facilities and on-course bookmakers across all enclosures. ATM cash machines on-site. The Cesarewitch is one of the heaviest-bet handicaps of the year so bring cash if you plan to bet at the rails. Our [bookmaker comparison guide](/bookmakers/) covers online alternatives if you'd rather place from the stand via your phone.
### Bet responsibly Betting should be entertainment, not a way to make money. The odds favour the bookmaker over time, so only stake what you can afford to lose and set a budget before you start. If gambling stops being fun, free confidential support is available at [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org/). 18+.
## Sources & verification Race details, dates, prize money and trends in this piece were cross-checked against: - [Wikipedia: Cesarewitch Handicap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesarewitch_Handicap) - [Newmarket racecourse: official site](https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/newmarket/) - [Racing Post: Cesarewitch form](https://www.racingpost.com/) [Source: cross-referenced as of the lastUpdated date in this article's meta.yaml.]