2026 race details

The 2026 Cesarewitch is scheduled for Saturday 10 October 2026 at Newmarket (Rowley Mile), part of the two-day October Meeting.

Detail	Value
Race date	Saturday 10 October 2026
Off time	TBA
Going	TBA
Field size
Distance	2 miles 2 furlongs
Grade	Heritage Handicap (Class 2)
Prize fund	~£150,000

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
• Doncaster St Leger weekend (September) — the March Stakes and the Portland both produce form
• 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.

Five-day entries close around 4 October. 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 open in late August and narrow through the Cambridgeshire Meeting. The race attracts a maximum 34-runner field with big each-way payouts — 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

The Cesarewitch was first run in 1839 — the same year as its sister race the Cambridgeshire, both commissioned as flat handicaps to honour royal visits. 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), who made a state visit to Newmarket in 1839 and whose father endowed the race. It's one of the most historically resonant names in the flat calendar.

The legends

Scatter Dice (1974) — Harry Wragg-trained — defined the post-war Cesarewitch winner: a stayer improving late in the season off a patient summer preparation.

Sweet Selection (1997) — Lady Hayes-trained — won off a handicap mark of 95, a classic Cesarewitch profile.

Double Trigger (1995) — Mark Johnston's stable — is not officially a Cesarewitch winner but is the most famous modern British stayer and his three Doncaster Cups set the template for how a Cesarewitch-trip horse should be conditioned.

Scatter Dice and Spirit Of Appeal in the 1990s were both campaigned by Yorkshire handicap specialists and showed the Cesarewitch's enduring appeal for stayers' handicappers.

Aktash (2015) — Willie Mullins-trained — won the race as a Cross-Channel runner, underlining the Cesarewitch's appeal to Irish and mixed-code trainers. Mullins has won the race multiple times by entering flat-qualified jumpers — a angle that remains live in modern editions.

Saab Hasan (2021) at 28/1 is a reminder that the Cesarewitch throws up huge-priced winners on a regular basis — 30+ runner fields and a 2m 2f trip combine to produce upsets.

What wins the Cesarewitch

The Rowley Mile Cesarewitch course at 2m 2f rewards:

• Genuine stamina — 2m 2f is the longest flat trip in Britain; 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; Aktash (2015) is the template
• Big-field race-craft — 30+ runners over 2m 2f is tactical; horses who can settle off a hot pace and finish strong from midfield are the typical winners

Recent roll of honour

This section updates after each year's running — see /racing-news/ for the most recent race result article.

TV coverage and how to watch

The 2026 Cesarewitch Handicap is live on ITV1 (free-to-air in the UK).

UK terrestrial — ITV1 / 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 2026 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 2–3 minutes — a consistent feature of Cesarewitch-day scheduling. The race itself lasts over four minutes on typical good ground and closer to 4:30 on soft, giving broadcasters a genuinely long race spectacle.

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 1:50–2:00pm.
• 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 covers online alternatives if you'd rather place from the stand via your phone.