Newmarket round-up: Who Dares Win punches Cesarewitch ticket on Rowley Mile
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Who Dares Wins got the better of his Alan King-trained stablemate Coeur De Lion to win the Betfred Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket.
As is so often the case in these marathon handicaps, jumps trainers were to the fore with dual-purpose performer Shrewd back in third.
Coeur De Lion was sent off the 9-2 favourite, but the smart juvenile hurdler was struggling briefly three furlongs from home under Hollie Doyle.
While he responded to pressure, Who Dares Wins (7-1) and Tom Marquand made rapid headway up the far rail.
The two stablemates came close together inside the final furlong but Who Dares Wins, who had finished fourth in the Chester Cup and third in the Ascot Stakes, finally landed a big pot by a length and three-quarters.
Shrewd filled the same position as 12 months ago with the veteran Oriental Fox staying on into fourth.
King was not present as he was attending a wedding, but owner Henry Ponsonby said from Newbury: "I'm obviously really pleased.
"He really deserved that. He was slightly unlucky in the Chester Cup and ran a cracker at Royal Ascot.
"He goes to the Cesarewitch now. He picks up a penalty but we're not too bothered about that, it was worth winning this.
"The slow pace caught him out last time at Chester.
"He's had a light campaign and of course he's a very useful hurdler, too, so we've that to look forward to as well."
The winner was cut to 12-1 favourite with Paddy Power and Betvictor from 16s for the Cesarewitch itself.
Hughie Morrison's Star Rock (5-2 favourite) won the ebfstallions.com Bentley Cambridge Fillies' Handicap on her first outing since May.
She was also a winner on that occasion, when she beat Luca Cumani's God Given who was not disgraced in Group One company last time out.
Morrison said: "I hadn't over-trained her, so I didn't know what to expect.
"She just knocked herself and as she's a nice horse in the making, I didn't want to rush her.
"I think the obvious race for her now is the Old Rowley Cup given she's entered in that, she's progressive, hopefully."
John Gosden started the day by winning the first two races at Newbury and the opener at Headquarters with Stream Song (11-2).
She looked to face a stiff task as odds-on favourite Sheikha Reika went clear, but Kieran Shoemark organised his mount in the dip to win by a neck.
"This filly was just getting the hang of it and was getting going at the end," said Gosden.
"She is a lovely filly and will be put away and we will see her in a Oaks trial early in May.
"I don't want to rush her she has had three runs. She has always been a bit slow on the uptake, but I couldn't be more pleased with her."
Magic Lily (5-2 joint-favourite) was given a 16-1 quote by BetVictor for next year's Oaks after winning the second division of the one-mile fillies' maiden for Charlie Appleby and James Doyle.
Out of a Derby winner in New Approach and an Oaks heroine in Dancing Rain, Magic Lily powered home by eight lengths.
Related posts
Racing TV presenters and pundits nominate their Flat horses to follow
Albert Einstein and Gstaad taken out of Guineas due to clerical error
Hollie Doyle: I’m trying to rebuild contacts and get things going again
Constitution Hill’s official Flat rating revealed
Cheltenham forced to cancel final three fixtures of the season
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with Virgin Bet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £50 in free bets in Multis with Betfair
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
£30 in free bets when you bet £5 with Ladbrokes
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + money back if 2nd to SP fav with Boyle Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved