2026 Cambridgeshire Tips - 20/1 shot can claim Newmarket crown
Top-weighted horses have had notable recent success in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, and Crown Of Oaks stands out as a prime early selection for 2026. Despite a mixed record, William Haggas’ four-year-old boasts a career-best RPR of 110 and a proven track record in challenging handicaps. With ideal conditions and a likely competitive mark, Crown Of Oaks is expected to be a leading contender if declared. Bettors should keep an eye on his price as race day approaches.
- Crown Of Oaks is tipped as an early pick for the 2026 Cambridgeshire Handicap
- Recent form and race record suggest strong competitiveness, even under a high weight
- A single-figure price is expected if declared, making early bets appealing
Next Saturday's card at Newmarket might feature two important Group One races, but the big betting race on the day is the Cambridgeshire, a nine-furlong handicap which was first run at flat racing HQ in 1839.
Today, I've taken a look through the ante-post betting for next Saturday's Cambridgeshire and picked out my best betting tips.
2026 Cambridgeshire Handicap - Crown Of Oaks
The last three editions of the Cambridgeshire have been won by the top weight. We've also seen horses rated 103, 104 and 107 win in the last ten years, so the proven operators near the head of the weights need just as much respect as the progressive three-year-olds – maybe even more so.
By his lofty standards, William Haggas' record in the Cambridgeshire is pretty poor. He always has at least one or two runners in this handicap, though, and I'd be surprised if CROWN OF OAKS (20/1) didn't come to Newmarket this time around.
Crown Of Oaks was smashed into 5/1 favouritism for last year's Cambridgeshire on the back of a runaway handicap victory at Ascot at the start of September. For reasons best known to himself, Haggas then opted to run in the Northfields Handicap at the Curragh just a week later on Irish Champions Weekend, where Crown Of Oaks was beaten into third. After a month off the track, Haggas' four-year-old ran in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day and made all to claim a narrow victory over Holloway Boy and Ebt's Guard.
Having been pushed up to a mark of 104 after that Balmoral success, Crown Of Oaks started out in the Group Three International Stakes at the Curragh at the end of June. Haggas' raider finished last of seven behind the excellent Purview that day and didn't fare much better back in handicap company at Sandown in late August, where he finished ninth behind Kokbastua under the welter burden of 10-2.
Once the weights for the Cambridgeshire were set at the start of September, Crown Of Oaks surprisingly bounced back to form in the Fortune Stakes at Sandown. Cieren Fallon allowed his mount to bowl along next to the front-running Nahraan, and it was only the well-backed favourite Cerro Blanco who was able to pass the two leaders, relegating Crown Of Oaks to second with an impressive late burst of speed.
Haggas has Scoville and Bullet Point sitting prominently in the betting for this year's Balmoral, and this intermediate trip would certainly suit Crown Of Oaks, given his form over eight and ten furlongs. A mark of 103 would see the four-year-old carry 9-8 in this year's Cambridgeshire, providing the top-rated Thunder Run takes his chance.
Crown Of Oaks would enter this handicap on the back of a career-best RPR of 110, and there's no doubt that he's classy enough to triumph under a big weight. If declared, he'll be a single-figure price on the day.
Verdict
Crown Of Oaks is our early selection for the 2026 Cambridgeshire Handicap.
Crown Of Oaks
2026 Cambridgeshire
@20/1 - 5 Units
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