Last Saturday saw Newmarket play host to the second leg of the Autumn Double as a squadron of the most talented staying handicappers in training descended upon the headquarters of the flat racing game. Always providing an enthralling big field spectacle, the 2024 edition produced more drama than most.
As ever, this 2m2f attracted a diverse cast of stars, with runners from the leading British and Irish flat yards mixing it with the stamina-laden challengers hailing from predominantly National Hunt operations.
Irish Eyes Smiling Once Again
With Irish challengers landing five of the past six editions, punters were understandably drawn to the claims of those making the trip over from the Emerald Isle this time around.
Cesarewitch Winners 2018 to 2023
| Year | Winner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Shunter | Emmet Mullins (IRE) |
| 2022 | Run For Oscar | Charles Byrnes (IRE) |
| 2021 | Buzz | Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2020 | Great White Shark | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
| 2019 | Stratum | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
| 2018 | Low Sun | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
Hailing from the yards of three-time Cesarewitch winner Willie Mullins and his Grand National-winning nephew Emmet Mullins, Sea Of Sands and Jacovec Cavern started as joint favourites. Charles Byrnes sent 2022 champ Run For Oscar for another crack at the prize, whilst Aidan O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien, Gordon Elliott, and John McConnell were all represented in the 24-runner field.
Of the above, Run For Oscar and Joseph O’Brien’s Magellan Strait fared best in fourth and fifth, but that didn’t prevent the Irish from claiming the top spot. The name Mrs C O’Leary may not be too familiar to British racing fans, as the trainer is currently filling in for her suspended brother, Tony Martin. However, Martin is renowned for his handicap prowess and had picked the right target for 33/1 shot Alphonse Le Grande, who stormed home up the stands rail to score by a nose.
But Not for Long
Coming out on top in such a thrilling finish provided a huge moment for connections, none more so than apprentice jockey Jamie Powell, who appeared to have earned a breakthrough big race success.
However, alarm bells soon began to ring for Powell, with race replays showing that Alphonse Le Grande had received a little too much encouragement during his lung-busting run to the line. Were British Racing’s whip rules about to turn Powell’s delight to despair?
What Are The Whip Regulations?
Whip regulations have been in place for decades to protect the animals which serve the sport so well. However, any punishments resulting from a breach of the rules had previously fallen upon the shoulders of the rider.
That changed following a 2022 review, which declared that the whip may be used up to six times in a flat race and seven times in a jumps contest. Any uses above these limits would result in a referral to the stewards. Should the whip be used four or more times above the limit, the horse and rider will be disqualified from the race.
All of which proved to be bad news for Powell, with a countback revealing the exuberant rider had deployed the whip on 10 occasions. As such, following an official review on Tuesday, 15th October, Alphonse Le Grande was disqualified from the race, with Powell on the receiving end of a 28-day ban, encompassing fixtures between 29th October and 6th December.
Connections have seven days to appeal this decision, but with none of the additional whip uses deemed necessary on safety grounds (a potentially mitigating factor), the chances of a reversal appear slim, at best.
Alphonse’s Loss is Manxman’s Gain
One horse’s loss is another’s gain, and the beneficiary in this instance was the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Manxman, with the 7/1 chance announced as the official winner of the 2024 Cesarewitch.
| Position | Original Result | Amended Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Alphonse Le Grande | Manxman |
| 2nd | Manxman | Aqwaam |
| 3rd | Aqwaam | Run For Oscar |
| 4th | Run For Oscar | Magellan Strait |
Tuesday’s decision was also particularly welcome to Manxman’s rider, Sean Dylan Bowen. Currently embroiled in a tense battle with Joe Leavy for the 2024 Champion Apprentice title, this success moves Bowen two wins clear at the top of the table, with only four days to go.
Frustration for Punters
Whilst the Crisfords and Bowen welcomed the decision, punters weren’t so happy – specifically those who had backed Manxman.
Under first-past-the-post rules, those who backed Alphonse Le Grande celebrated a 33/1 payout on the day of the race. Unfortunately for Manxman supporters, these rules do not cover result changes made after race day. Had Alphonse Le Grande been disqualified on Saturday, e.g. for interference, the bookmakers would have coughed up for both Alphonse Le Grande and Manxman. As it was, those who backed the well-fancied runner were left with nothing but a losing betting slip and a tale of woe.
Given the complications regarding subjective opinions on the correct use of the whip, most in the industry agree that a delay to review the race in the cold light of day is the best approach, and thankfully, instances such as this occur very rarely.
Due to the high-profile nature of the race, Alphonse Le Grande and Jamie Powell hit the headlines, but this was only the third instance of a horse disqualification due to overuse of the whip since the implementation of the new rules.
