The 2025 Cambridgeshire has a smaller field than usual on Saturday at Newmarket, but still represents a tricky test for punters given a field of 24 to choose from. GG tipster Joe Napier previews this year’s renewal and gives his verdict.
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Favourites
A convincing winner last time out at Doncaster, Treble Tee may well live up to his high potential and sets a standard among the three-year-olds in this year’s Cambridgeshire field. He had twice been second in August before that victory, but an 8lb rise does not look too harsh given how far he pulled clear, albeit he was held up that day, which often suits more at Doncaster than it does at Newmarket. Similarly, a draw in stall 7 might not be ideal without any rain, as high draws have dominated this race in all bar last season, when the going turned soft.
Relatively, stall 18 is up the high end this year, a bonus for Fifth Column, while 12 is no dire berth for Westridge either. That Gosden-trained pair have both enjoyed two wins in their last four starts, the former doing so narrowly on each occasion, but shaping like this extra furlong will suit, the latter scoring comfortably, but now dropping in trip, which may not necessarily help. Fifth Column retains the 5lb weight-for-age allowance, so is preferred, but there could be value elsewhere.
Fort George is the other likely to challenge for favouritism. With better luck in two runs at Goodwood, he could well have won all four races this season, starting the season with a 1m win on the Rowley Mile, and most recently pulling clear by 3½ lengths at Newbury last month over 1m2f. This interim distance poses no threats and even a 9lb rise could prove lenient under Oisin Murphy.
Contenders
Tribal Chief’s verdict over Treble Tee at Goodwood at the end of August looks all the better now, while his second on the Rowley Mile in April has been significantly franked by the winner since. Those are his two starts on good ground or quicker, which should prevail on Saturday, so he could easily go well again on 3lb better terms with Treble Tee for that victory.
Top-weight Boiling Point represents the same connections as last year’s winner Liberty Lane. They boast similar profiles, but a mark of 109 will be tough to defy in this company even after he lost by just a head in Group 3 company last time out. Stall 6 may be a struggle unlike the positive it would have been 12 months ago.
Greek Order had been going consistently well in big handicaps until nearly last at York last time, but that may well have been the 1m2½f trip, as every consistent run prior was over 1m. He is in an each-way proposition once again, while Real Gain is very interesting having bolted in over course and distance on this card two years ago. He has relatively few miles on the clock for a five-year-old, has plummeted down the weights since, and should strip much fitter for his third at Goodwood after 367 days off at the start of August. Being a horse who could sit just behind the pace is a likely positive too.
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Outsiders
William Haggas’ yard remain in the winners and Treasure Time is down 2lb since the start of the season. He ran eyecatchingly enough last time at Ascot behind Ebt’s Guard to suggest he can overturn that form with better breaks in running, although he will need them in this size of field. Stall 21 is a definite positive though.
Cash was second to Treble Tee last time out on his first ever handicap start. He had proven just below Group class prior, but a mark of 101 would be within his range if able to pull out slightly more, while both Mister Winston and Great Chieftain had been among the winners before finishing behind Tribal Chief and Treble Tee at Goodwood last time.
A class angle on his day would be Savvy Victory off his declining mark, with he and Mr Swivell, who is officially 3lb well in for his Ascot second last time out, both potential each-way plays.
Verdict
The top two are REAL GAIN and Fort George, with preference for the selection based on his more preferable draw in stall 22 and the fact that three-year-olds, represented by the latter, are without a win in this since 2019. Real Gain is still unexposed for a five-year-old and is of major interest on his only ever course and distance start, which he won by over five lengths. Fort George could have been unbeaten this season and remains open to further progress, as does Godolphin runner Fifth Column, though the handicapper may have run out of patience with him. Treasure Time, who has slipped to a tempting mark after an eyecatching run last time, and Tribal Chief, whose verdict over Treble Tee at Goodwood looks all the stronger now, could be better value place options.
- Real Gain
- Fort George
- Treasure Time
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