Cambridgeshire Handicap 2022

The show starts with a look back at both the Mill Reef Stakes and the Ayr Gold Cup, won by Summerghand at the fourth attempt. Incredibly, Danny Tudhope became the first Scottish-born jockey to win the race for 50 years.

Rishi Persad then moves the conversation on to the Cambridgeshire Handicap, saying: “Quelle surprise, William Haggas has horses scattered at the top of the betting market including Mujtaba (11/2 favourite) and Protagonist (15/2).” 

However, he reminds viewers that 40/1 shots (Majestic Dawn & Bedouin's Story) have won in the last couple of years, with races tending to favour those drawn in high numbers.

 

Cambridgeshire Handicap 2022 Tips & Prediction

So, which of the favourites do our experts prefer? And who do they have their eye on as each-way plays for the race?

Hayley Moore said: “Of the two Haggas horses, I think Protagonist is going to be the better horse. He's had a nice confidence boosting win at Sandown, he's uncomplicated, he travelled through the race with great ease and held off Dual Identity. It was as if he had something up his sleeve.”

Sam Turner replied: “I liked the Sandown performance of Protagonist but I also liked the run of the second DUAL IDENTITY. There's been a few sharks sniffing around him to go down under which I'm not surprised about at all as he really seems to have found his stride in recent times - in nine runs over 10 furlongs he’s only been out of the first three on one occasion on very soft ground. 

“If the ground's good and Dual Identity gets a nice draw and pace to run at, which seems assured in a race of this nature, I think he'll be there or thereabouts. He'd be on my shortlist along with Protagonist - those two from that Sandown race where the speed figure was so good.”

“And the other one I quite like is FIRST VIEW who managed to win at Kempton last time under Christian Howarth. I think he's ridden him three times, finishing second and winning twice. He represents connections who won this last time with Bedouin's Story (trained by Saeed bin Suroor). 

“He stuck to his task at Kempton really well but it's that John Smith's form I really like - the amount of winners that have come out of that race at York. There are just lots of winners interwoven with First View's form and I give him a good chance (best price 20/1), over the nine as well which should be perfect given he faded late in the 10 at York.”

Persad, himself, added: “I'm quite interested in INJAZATI if he gets the all-clear from Charlie Fellowes to run in the race. I've always felt like he's been stretched by a mile and a half, including at Newmarket last year where he ran pretty well but ran out of puff. 

“And in fact, in the race at Windsor last time, he came into contention having been a bit keen but just ran out of gas late on. I've seen him do that a few times but a strongly run race over nine at Newmarket looks right up his street.”