bet365 Cambridgeshire: four for the shortlist

A smaller field than usual does not mean this year’s bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap is any more difficult to solve, with the betting currently 5-1 the field and only a few horses available at single-figure odds.

One noticeable statistic that you will see when looking at previous runnings of the race is the emphasis on the draw. Prior to last year’s renewal when the ground was unusually soft and the bias flipped to low numbers (far side), the previous eight winners has been drawn in 35, 26, 21, 25, 29, 21, 29 and 28.

On that basis, with the ground likely to be fast again on Saturday, it is good news for general second-favourite Fifth Column and bad news for favourite Treble Tee, for all the latter has to have every chance under a 4lb penalty.

Here are my top five for the race, in order of preference.

The stable won this race with an unexposed three-year-old in both 2018 and 2019 (and further back, with three-year-olds Pipedreamer and Halling) and they look to have a great chance of landing the race with another three-year-old this season courtesy of Fifth Column.

He is not as lightly-raced as Gosden's two most recent winners, but he has improved since being gelded over the winter and is four from six this season, with his only blips coming in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was drawn on the wrong side and 'won' his group, and when finishing fifth at Glorious Goodwood when the going was surely too soft for him.

Back on fast ground at York last time, he showed a good attitude to score by a short-head off a career-high mark when not getting the smoothest run through. He shaped as if this extra furlong should be no problem, for all he is certain to get a stronger pace in Saturday's contest.

This half-brother to Group One winner Royal Marine handled the not too dissimilar dip on the July Course when winning in the summer and is drawn towards the standside here, whilst William Buick aboard is another obvious positive.

Finished third when last seen at Goodwood on what was his first run for 367 days, giving 7lb to the re-opposing Fifth Column, who finished two lengths back in fifth.

Drawn high here, which has been an advantage over the past decade, he has actually won over this unique course and distance before, having scored in handicap company at this meeting two years ago. He should hold every chance of being in contention if he improves from his effort at the beginning of August.

The nagging concern is he has somewhat disappointed in two runs with 20+ runners, but he has ran well the last twice in relatively large fields and he may just be suited to a strongly run race over this trip.

Being drawn near the wing may help too, away from most of the hustle and bustle, and his yard is in good form.

Track bias concerns aside, he has to enter calculations off the back of such an impressive performance at Doncaster. Looks well-treated here with a 4lb penalty for that success, which was a career-best effort.

Ground versatile, he is similar to Fifth Column in that a gelding operation (plus a breathing operation in this case) seems to have worked the oracle - his form figures since then reading 221.

He is a strong traveller and should have no problems with this extra furlong, whilst he has also won on the Rowley Mile before - another big positive.

This three-year-old has gone a bit under the radar here, but he is another that arrives at Newmarket in flying form, having won easily over a mile and a quarter at Newbury last time.

That was his first run on good to firm ground and Oisin Murphy, who rode him that day, keeps the ride.

He is a previous course winner having won here over a mile in May and is yet another contender that has been gelded before taking his form to new heights this season.

The 9lb ride for his emphatic win last time seems a fair bit, but he was slightly unlucky at Goodwood the time before where he had to wait for a run, and he could still be ahead of the handicapper.

He has options from a middle draw and he should stay this trip strongly. 

Watch: Danny Archer's six names to note on Saturday!