One of the feature races at Randwick this Saturday is the Epsom Handicap (1600m), where the market says it is an open contest.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for 2026 Epsom Handicap.
2026 Epsom Handicap Runner Preview:
1. Ceolwulf: He is humming for the King Charles…can he win this? I say yes, but I’d rather watch him than back with the weight and no Blinkers.
2. Tom Kitten: His best is clearly good enough but his two runs back have been plain, albeit at Caulfield, and I do think big tracks suit. Randwick is a tick, but happy to watch.
3. Autumn Boy: He looks the obvious with the second to Sheza Alibi, working home with real purpose behind the star. That is A1 form, he lands in a plum spot and is fine getting his toe in if the rain comes.
4. Idle Flyer: Idle Flyer is humming for Matty Smith. Jury was out after the Tramway but I thought she ran super in the 7 Stakes, closing strongly when fourth to Autumn Glow. That is the A1 form and given her record, gee I think she’s really well in at the weights.
5. Lady Shenandoah: I think she has seen her better days. Just not quite up to this level.
6. Well Written: I think she is weighted as if she is better than Autumn Glow…which she isn’t. She’s a star, don’t get me wrong, but she has been so well placed. No place to hide here and I think she won’t handle it.
7. Miltarize: He wasn’t bad in the Theo Marks but he looks up against it.
8. Attica: Attica looks to be ticking along beautifully. He was never really a winning threat given the race shape in the Tramway a few weeks ago but I loved the way he kept chasing and finding the line. Right down in the weights, he’ll run a beauty.
9. Vivy Air: Was okay in the Cameron at Newcastle and will improve here, but doubt she improves enough to threaten.
10. Fully Lit: Had the pattern/race shape in her corner in the Cameron and took advantage to score. More depth here, more front end pressure, not for me.
11. Hellsing: He’s getting ready for the Big Dance and this is a tune up en route.
12. Perfumist: Backed as if she was Autumn Glow in the Tibbie and pretty much won accordingly. Drawn wide, she’ll have to press forward but she has big numbers at the Randwick mile. Not dismissing.
13. Matcha Latte: Think he’s racing really well at present but not sold on him at the mile.
14. Panova: Needed the run fresh and the trial was okay. But, she looks up against it.
15. Plymouth: Think he’s here making up the numbers and probably heading towards the Five Diamonds.
16. God’s Window: God’s Window is sneaky flying for Chris Waller. He was never a winning threat in the Theo Marks but I liked the way he kept chasing and finding the line in defeat. Getting towards peak fitness and rising to 1600m, he’ll run a beauty.
17. Declichy Boulevard: She beat nothing two weeks ago but boy the way she spanled them…it was sharp. I think she is one for multiples.
18. Encap: He’s run some big races over the Randwick mile but I can’t have him.
19. Mr Miller: Mr Miller had clear excuses in the Cameron at Newcastle. He was tardy away and against the pattern, he really had no chance but I loved the way he kept chasing and finding the line in defeat. If he jumps clean, can settle near the speed, he’ll run very well.
2026 Epsom Handicap $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Idle Flyer
Group l Strategy Outlay: $800
Group l Strategy Return: $190
2026 Epsom Handicap Speed Map
Looks to be good early speed here with Fully Lit coming across. But, there is speed drawn outside, with Matcha Latte, who likely gives the drag across to Perfumist who in turn will give Idle Flyer a drag across if given a dig in the ribs.
Epsom Handicap Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 7 | 59kg |
| 2 | TOM KITTEN | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Adam Hyeronimus | 4 | 57.5kg |
| 3 | AUTUMN BOY | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 55.5kg |
| 4 | IDLE FLYER | Matthew Smith | Jason Collett | 18 | 55kg |
| 5 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 16 | 55kg |
| 6 | WELL WRITTEN | Stephen Marsh | Zac Lloyd | 3 | 55kg |
| 7 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 19 | 53.5kg |
| 8 | ATTICA | Joseph Pride | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 51.5kg |
| 9 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Reece Jones | 9 | 51kg |
| 10 | FULLY LIT | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Winona Costin | 8 | 51kg |
| 11 | HELLSING (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Braith Nock (a) | 12 | 51kg |
| 12 | PERFUMIST (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 17 | 50kg |
| 13 | MATCHA LATTE | Nacim Dilmi | Robbie Dolan | 15 | 50kg |
| 14 | PANOVA | Chris Waller | Ms Alysha Collett | 14 | 50kg |
| 15 | PLYMOUTH | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Jackson Radley (a) | 11 | 50kg |
| 16 | GOD’S WINDOW (GB) | Chris Waller | Ms Siena Grima (a) | 13 | 50kg |
| 17 | DECLICHY BOULEVARD | Chris Waller | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 50kg |
| 18 | ENCAP | Gary Portelli | Ms Mollie Fitzgerald (a) | 10 | 50kg |
| 19 | MR MILLER (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 50kg |
Epsom Handicap Odds
