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Bronze Angel is one of 111 initial entries for the Betfred Cambridgeshire, a heritage handicap run at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 26th September.
He could make history by becoming the first three-time winner of a race that was first run in 1839.
Bronze Angel first hit the headlines in 2012 when he landed this one mile and one furlong event off a handicap mark of 95. Two years later, and off just a 4lb higher mark, he did it again, before going on to lift the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot off a career high mark of 105.
He has not won in eight starts since, despite often running well, and is now back down to a mark of 105.He is not the only previous winner entered as Educate, who won the Betfred Cambridgeshire in 2013 and finished ninth behind Bronze Angel in 2014, is also engaged.
Other interesting candidates include two Royal Hunt Cup winners, GM Hopkins (2015) and Belgian Bill (2013), plus this season’s John Smith’s Cup winner, Master Carpenter.
And in his final season with a training licence, Barry Hills could be represented by Nafaqa, Elkaayed and Sahaafy as he bids to win this historic race for the second time, a quarter of a century after he landed it with Risen Moon in 1990.
Marcus Tregoning, trainer of Bronze Angel, said;
“Bronze Angel is in very good form and runs at York tomorrow. After that it’s full steam ahead for the Betfred Cambridgeshire.”
“You have got to say that he was very impressive last year. The one mile and one furlong trip really suits him as does the fact that they always go very, very quick. And he always runs really well at Newmarket.”
“He has been consistently very unlucky with the draw this season yet, despite that, the handicapper hasn’t dropped him very much, though he has come down a tiny bit.”
“He has been campaigned with the Betfred Cambridgeshire in mind all season and if he did win it a third time I think that it would be a record that lasted for a while, as it’s hard to keep these older horses going.”
“He’s a tremendous horse who really made my season with his two big autumn wins last year. If he did manage to pull it off it would be an amazing achievement for my whole team.”
“He has his quirks at home but is a very good feeder who does himself really well. Although he’s still capable of whipping round on occasion, he’s often ridden by my 16-year-old son, George.”
Sponsors Betfred have begun betting on the race with Basem and Decorated Knight heading the market at 12/1. The Warrington firm are paying out on the first five places.
The progressive Basem finished fourth in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood last time out whilst Decorated Knight looked one to follow when coming from the back of the field to win on his handicap debut at Sandown.
Bronze Angel is priced at 16/1 to defend his crown, while 2013 winner Educate has been chalked up at 20/1.
Andrew Griffiths, Betfred Spokesman, said:
“There are plenty of improvers in the Betfred Cambridgeshire but none more so than Basem and Decorated Knight who could easily be group horses in a handicap.”
Prices for the Betfred Cambridgeshire
12 Basem, Decorated Knight; 16 Breden, Bronze Angel, Early Morning, GM Hopkins, Halation, Mange All, Master Carpenter, Munaaser, Portage, Roseburg; 20 Abseil, Ashridge Lad, Birdman, Chil The Kite, Educate, Elkaayed, Hasanour, Keble, Man of Harlech, Musaddas, Nafaqa, Prince Gagarin, Spark Plug; 25 Ayaar, Clon Brulee, Dancetrack, Donncha, Earth Drummer, Energia Davos, Express Himself, Extremity, Fire Fighting, Heisman, Homage, Kelinni, Master of Finance, Pacify, Pyjama Party, Resonant, Sahaafy, Saigon City, Sennockian Star, Talyani, You're Fired, Zipzip; 33 Battalion, Belgian Bill, Boomshackerlacker, Brendan Brackan, Charlie Bear, Complicit, Dance And Dance, Dragon Fei, Faithful Creek, Forgotten Hero, Get Knotted, Ifwecan, Instant Attraction, Jacob Black, Master of Irony, Master The World, Melvin The Grate, Merry Me, Mica Mika, My Dream Boat, Room Key, Swift Emperor, Third Time Lucky, Yeager, Yourartisonfire; 40 Almodovar, Altharoos, American Artist, Bartholomew Fair, Big Baz, Burano, Examiner, Fire Ship, Franklin D, Gabrial's Kaka, Laurence, Maleficent Queen, Margaret's Mission, Polar Forest, Solo Hunter; 50 Arrowzone, Captain Lars, Credit Swap, Cymro, Eutropius, Flashy Memories, Ginger Jack, Haaf A Sixpence, Mistiroc, Rocket Punch, Si Senor; 66 Artful Prince, Calm Attitude, Fray, Life Less Ordinary, Obsidian, Sheila's Buddy, Squire; 100 Chain of Events, Guaracha, Karaka Jack, Tin Pan Alley; 200 Tyrsal.
Each way terms: ¼ 1-2-3-4-5