Cesarewitch tips and predictions: Pied Piper backed for win

The Cesarewitch is one of the most valuable handicap races in the stayers’ division. The 2m 2f contest at Newmarket is open to three-year-olds and above and always features a large field.

The maximum number of 34 runners will feature in this year’s renewal, including Tashkhan who is the highest-rated horse in the line-up with a mark of 109. There is also a strong contingent coming over from Ireland, with Pied Piper, The Shunter and Jesse Evans all having been declared.

Irish-trained horses have an excellent recent record in the Cesarewitch, winning four of the last five runnings. Willie Mullins has been responsible for three of those victories and he will saddle five horses this year, including Jackfinbar, Lot Of Joy and Mr Escobar. Last year the race was won by Run For Oscar for trainer Charles Byrnes. 

Cesarewitch tips, Saturday October 14

• Selection: Pied Piper @ 4/1 with Betfred
• Next best: Grand Providence @ 9/1 with Betfred

The above odds are courtesy of Betfred, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.

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Moore and Pied Piper can call the tune

Gordon Elliott is bidding to win the Cesarewitch for the first time in his career and he will have an excellent chance this year with Pied Piper. The five-year-old has been excellent over hurdles in the past couple of seasons, finishing third in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle and then second in the 2023 County Hurdle at the last two Cheltenham Festivals.

The Irish-based horse has always shown a great engine between obstacles and he is very familiar with running in Flat races – this will be his 12th start in the code. His latest appearance was in August over 2m 1f at Killarney, where he ran well and finished two lengths behind the winner. That run will have sharpened him up for this assignment.

Pied Piper’s chances were given a big boost earlier this week when Ryan Moore was booked for the ride. The Englishman would have had a choice of several runners but has opted to partner the Irish horse as he bids to win the race for a second time.

This handicap mark of 96 might not be enough to stop the strong stayer from prevailing in this large field. Expect him to be in great condition for the challenge, as this race would have been in mind all summer for his connections.

Selection: Pied Piper @ 4/1 with Betfred

Will fates prove kind to Grand Providence? 

No three-year-old has won the Cesarewitch since Darley Sun in 2009 but Grand Providence is a big player with the potential to end that wait, based on her victory in the Cesarewitch Trial last month.

Andrew Balding’s runner stayed on strongly at the back end of the 2m 2f race, scoring more cosily than the one-length winning margin suggests. She worked her way through the field from four furlongs out under an excellent ride from Hayley Turner.

The daughter of Nathaniel has been running consistently well this season but there has been a big improvement in her form since she stepped up in distance. She looks to have bags of stamina and there is likely to be more to come from her.

The course-and-distance winner has a 4lb penalty on her back for the victory in the trial but she has the lowest weight allocation in the field. She has run well on heavy ground before, so if more rain does fall on Newmarket ahead of this race, she should not mind the conditions.

Selection: Grand Providence @ 9/1 with Betfred

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