2026 Cesarewitch Ante-Post Tips - Irish challenger overpriced at 16s
Saturday's Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket is dominated by Irish runners in recent years, with six of the last eight winners hailing from Ireland. Reverend Hubert, trained by Charles Byrnes and last year's Cesarewitch Trial winner, is the expert's ante-post pick at 16/1. After a string of strong performances over both flat and hurdles, and with accomplished jockey Harry Davies booked, Reverend Hubert is positioned for a strong run, especially with a favorable draw and optimal tactics planned for the big day.
- Reverend Hubert tipped as the best ante-post pick for the 2026 Cesarewitch
- Irish-trained horses have dominated the race in recent years
- Top jockey Harry Davies is booked to ride Reverend Hubert, boosting his chances
Saturday's card at Newmarket is headlined by the historic Cesarewitch Handicap. This two-mile, two-furlong contest was first staged on the Rowley Mile in 1839, and has been won by many top-quality stayers over the years.
Today, I've taken a look through the ante-post betting for the 2026 Cesarewitch and picked out my best betting tips.
2026 Cesarewitch Ante-Post Tips - Reverend Hubert
Six of the last eight renewals of the Cesarewitch have been won by Irish raiders. In fact, in the last three years, at least four of the first six across the line were Irish, so any horse that comes over from Ireland for Saturday's big handicap has to be massively respected.
REVEREND HUBERT (16/1) won the Cesarewitch Trial here at Newmarket last September, and was sent off at 7/2 to win the race itself. The market leader managed to get over from his wide draw in stall 21, and hit the front with two furlongs to travel, only to run out of steam and drop back to fifth in the closing stages.
Charles Byrnes' eight-year-old has been in excellent form since then, winning once on the flat and twice over hurdles over the summer. Reverend Hubert flew home from the rear to score at the Curragh in June, and was last seen winning a three-mile handicap hurdle at Down Royal at the end of August, where he saw off a very good dual-purpose horse of Gordon Elliott's in Samui.
Byrnes has secured the services of the underrated Harry Davies on Saturday. Davies' has twice won the other major staying handicap on the flat, the Chester Cup, and has ridden the winners of the Royal Hunt Cup and the Epsom Dash this season along.
Reverend Hubert carried close to bottom-weight 12 months ago, and will have to shoulder 9-3 this time around. However, a more favourable low draw would enable Davies to execute the horse's preferred patient tactics, and Reverend Hubert looks an even stronger stayer of marathon trips this season.
Verdict
Reverend Hubert is our ante-post selection for the 2026 Cesarewitch.
Reverend Hubert
2026 Cesarewitch Tips
@16/1 - 5 Units
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