Epsom Handicap Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2025

The Epsom Handicap, traditionally run at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in late September/ early October, occupies a significant place within the Sydney Spring Carnival, offering a generous total prize money of $1.5 million. It is run over a distance of 1,600m and as the name suggests, it is run under handicap conditions

It is one of the two major middle-distance races on the calendar run at Royal Randwick, with the other being the Doncaster Mile which is run in the Autumn carnival. The race day itself is known as ‘Epsom Day’ and has a wonderful supporting cast of races on the card, including two other Group 1s in the Flight Stakes and The Metropolitan. 

With all this racing taking place at Randwick Racecourse, we know why many think it is one of the top tracks in the country. The winner of the Epsom Handicap each year is then exempt from the ballot for the following year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The team here at OnlyRacing have every aspect of the Epsom Handicap covered for you. So, no matter if you’re looking for horse racing betting or something more specific like the number of runners taking part in the race, we’ve got you covered. Our team is updating this page multiple times a year, so you always have all the latest information.

One of the things that attracts so many people to the Epsom Handicap is the sheer amount of prize money that’s on offer. For this Group 1, we see a mammoth $1.5 million available and the breakdown is shown below:

Do you love tips? Well, we love tips as well! Did we just become best friends? Well, if we can find some winners for you, we think we will! We’ve got some of the best free horse racing tips in Australia and our experts take great pride in the work they do. Our experts provide tips for every Group 1 race on the calendar plus general tips as well, just like our ever popular Randwick tips.

For the Epsom Handicap specifically, our tips for the upcoming race are not available just yet. We all have to wait until the final field is confirmed during race week because then we know which runners will be taking part in the race.

We know you want tips, so tips you shall have! We’ve left up our tips for the Epsom Handicap in 2024, so you can see how our experts performed:

Epsom Handicap Best Bet - Kovalica

If this isn’t the definition of an open field, then I don’t know what is. There are a lot of live chances in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday and it was difficult to nail down my best bet. In the end, I have sided with the Chris Waller-trained Kovalica. Kovalica is currently one of the more favoured runners in the market with odds of $7.50, thanks to PlayUp.

The gelding finished second in this race last year, so I’m hoping he can go one better in 2024. He hasn’t seen the winners stall in a while now, but gets the best opportunity in this one, I think. JMac sticks with him here and won’t have to use any energy in the early stages of the race, as he jumps from barrier one. The rise up in trip looks sets him up well here.

Epsom Handicap Next Best - Ceolwulf

Ceolwulf is the current $6.50 equal favourite with PlayUp and he has put in some solid performances as of late, including a second place in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes at the same track. He does drop back in trip, but I don’t think there’s any issue there. Has been a bit unlucky in the Autumn, so he is due for some good luck.

I think he is as fit as he has ever been and he will need some of the good luck I was talking about from a middle barrier draw, but if he does, watch him go. He has a really good chance to break through in the Epsom Handicap and finally get his first Group 1 win after two second places.

Epsom Handicap Best Roughie - Berkshire Shadow

Lots of contenders for the best roughie, but I think Berkshire Shadow presents some value that I just can’t pass up. The gelding is currently paying $21 with PlayUp and comes into the Epsom Handicap third-up, last racing on September 20. He is flying under the radar a bit because it’s taken him a while to climatise in Australia from Europe.

Has had his chances in Australia so far and in the Cameron Handicap, he had to cover a lot of ground and was able to fight to keep third position. I’m taking a chance on him, I do think he’ll show a lot of improvement in this race. Will it be enough for a top-three finish? We will just have to wait and see!

Wagering on the Epsom Handicap and other prestigious Group 1 Australian horse races presents a chance to demonstrate your understanding of the sport. The betting options range from simple Fixed Win or Place bets to the more intricate exotic wagers. 

Regardless of whether you favour accumulators, exotics, or have an interest in certain jockeys or the day's favoured bets, our exhaustive guide will arm you with the insights necessary to make informed betting choices. You should ensure you’ve got all the information in your arsenal before placing any bets.

The Epsom Handicap is shaping up to be a thrilling Group 1 race hosted at the Royal Randwick Racecourse. The selection of the best betting sites in Australia can seem daunting, but we aim to simplify it by recommending a handful of trustworthy choices. 

A significant consideration when choosing one of the top new betting apps in Australia is the odds they present. It might take some diligence, but checking multiple bookmakers and contrasting the odds they offer for your chosen market can assist you in pinpointing the bookie with the most favourable odds.

By selecting the bookmaker with the highest odds, your potential payout is amplified. Our bookmaker reviews page can provide a detailed list of Australian bookmakers that cater to Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing markets.

Comfort level with a certain bookmaker is another consideration. Many Australian bettors tend to stick with bookmakers they're acquainted with, be it due to a frequently used app or website. Punters know where to find what they are looking for, which makes placing a bet easier.

Staying loyal to a bookmaker with which you're comfortable placing bets is entirely justifiable. Our bookmaker reviews page offers insights into each bookie's reliability, aiding you in making an informed selection. Some of the bookies we cover include; EliteBet, Dabble and PuntNow.

Promotional and bonus offers also significantly influence bookmaker choice. Visit our promotions page to discover various bonuses and promotions offered by Australian bookmakers when you’re an existing customer. Some bookies may feature special promotions for the Epsom Handicap, so it's worth examining these opportunities as well.

In the end, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a bookmaker for the Epsom Handicap. The considerations mentioned above are all relevant. However, it's vital to bet with a reputable bookmaker and provide any necessary verification details before wagering.

We always see an epic field filled to the brim with quality runners and this is what we are expecting for the 2025 Epsom Handicap field, even though we don’t yet know which runners will be competing. The final field is confirmed closer to race day and is usually confirmed a couple of days out from the race. 

Before the final field is confirmed many of the top bookies will open up odds markets. This means that you can get a sneak peek at the type of runners that could be targeting the Epsom Handicap. The shorter the odds, the more likely the runner is going to make an appearance in the race.

While you wait, let’s check out the field that lined up for the Epsom Handicap in 2024 here:

We saw a massive field for the 2024 Epsom Handicap, as we’ve seen for many years now. There were a total of 20 runners confirmed for the race, including one emergency, just in case there were any pre-race scratchings. In the end, there weren’t any pre-race scratchings, so all 20 confirmed runners took their place in the race.

Unfortunately, scratchings happen all the time in horse racing. No one likes to see a horse scratched, but it can sometimes happen because the runner isn’t race fit and we don’t want to see horses get injured racing. Scratchings can happen at any time, so make sure you keep an eye on things.

Another thing you need to be aware of is the barrier draw. The barrier draw can have a fairly major influence on things, no matter the racecourse or the number of runners in the field. Some horses have a certain race style that suits an inside or wider barrier, so it’s important to note. Some barriers also have had more success than others in the past as well.

Checking out the Epsom Handicap form guide is pretty essential, especially if you’re the kind of person who wants to bet with their head and not their heart. With a race like the Epsom Handicap, there is a lot of data and stats to go through. Some punters wouldn’t even know where to start!

But the good news is that we’ve gone and done all the heavy lifting for you. After looking at all the relevant data over recent-ish years, we’ve found that some patterns have emerged and they could help point you in the direction of the likely next Epsom Handicap winner. Check out the key form indicators we’ve found below!

We usually see a capacity field compete in the Epsom Handicap and this means there are heaps of different formlines to check out. Some of the key lead-up races that you should look into include the Bill Ritchie Handicap and the Shannon Stakes.

Previously the George Main Stakes (now known as the King Charles III Stakes) was a great point of reference. However, this race has now moved to the same day as The Everest. Now, you should look into the Listed 7 Stakes race. 

It’s a good idea to look at some of the races that take place at least two weeks before the Epsom Handicap, check out our Group One races list for this information. Also, look for races that are run on the same track (Randwick) and the same distance (1,600m). 

Looking at the most popular age of the Epsom Handicap winners, 4YOs stand out. In the last 28 editions of the race, 19 4YOs have won the race. Whereas, mares should be avoided in the Epsom Handicap. There have been just three mares that have won the race in the last 33 years, with Winx being one of them.

Look for a runner that is coming into the Epsom Handicap in some form. Since 2013, we have seen seven last-start winners also go on to win the Epsom Handicap. Favourites also have a fairly decent record in the race and single-digit odds winners have been successful on 11 occasions in the last 14 years (not including the dead heat in 2022).

Wide barriers have a fairly decent record as well, so you don’t need to avoid those runners. Since 2011, we have seen seven winners overcome a double-digit barrier to win the Epsom Handicap. You should also look for a runner that’s come in with a light weight as we haven’t seen a winner carry more than 57kg since 1991 when Super Impose won with 61kg.

The Epsom Handicap has been around for a long time and this means we’ve seen a lot of great horses compete and win the race. With so many options to choose from and only a handful of places available in our Epsom Handicap horses section, we’ve had to be brutal with the cuts.

Some of the best horses have been excluded from this list because we just don’t have the room to talk about all of them. We hope you agree with the choices we’ve made and if you don’t, well, there’s nothing you can do about it! Check out the horses that have managed to make the cut below:

Chatham - 1932 & 1933

Chatham won the Epsom Handicap in back-to-back years in 1932 and 1932. In 2005, Chatham was also inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Some of the key races he won throughout his career included; the Cox Plate, the Doncaster Mile, the Winx Stakes and the Caulfield Stakes.

Shannon - 1945

With a career record of 44:20-8-7, Shannon won some of the biggest races on the Group 1 calendar, including the 1945 Epsom Handicap. He even has a Group 2 race named in his honour, the Shannon Stakes. Some of the key races he was victorious in throughout his career included; the Canterbury Stakes and the King Charles II Stakes.

Sky High - 1961

Inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, Sky High ended his career with a record of 55:29-10-9, which included a victory in the 1961 Epsom Handicap. Some of the other key races Sky High won included; the Golden Slipper, the Victoria Derby, the Champagne Stakes and the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Super Impose - 1990 & 1991

Super Impose is another multiple winner of the Epsom Handicap, winning in 1990 and again in 1991. He made almost $6 million in prize money throughout his career and had a record of 74:20-24-8. Some of his biggest wins were in races like the Cox Plate, the Doncaster Mile, the  Turnbull Stakes and the Ranvet Stakes.

Winx - 2015

We all know who Winx is. Even if you aren’t a close follower of the horse racing industry, you’d know the name at least. Winx had an astounding record of 43:37-3-0, which helped her amass over $26 million in prize money. She won some of the biggest races multiple times, including races like the Cox Plate and the Verry Elleegant Stakes, both four times.

Before you commit to any bets for the Epsom Handicap, you need to check out the odds. The odds are not fixed and will continue to change as we get closer to race day. So, if you’ve found a price you like, you should jump on it while you can, then you’ve locked in those odds for the race and it doesn’t matter if there are further changes in the odds.

As we get closer to the Epsom Handicap, more  horse racing markets will open up. The week of the race will be the time that has the most markets available for punters to choose from. It’s a good idea to shop around as well, as some bookies will have different odds for the same runner/ market.

PlayUp is our go-to bookie for all things Epsom Handicap odds. At this stage, PlayUp has not released their odds for the race. When the time is right, we will have all the odds from PlayUp listed in this section, so you can check how your favourite runner is faring. 

If you want to bet on a Fixed Win or Place market, check out what stage the market is in. If it is listed as “Before Noms” this is a good time to bet as you’ll end up getting your stake back if your runner doesn’t make the final field. You also might get higher odds for your runner compared to if you are betting on the day of the race.

We can’t tell you the odds for the 2025 Epsom Handicap just yet, but you can take a look at the odds for each runner in the 2024 race here:

*Odds correct as of 03/10/2024.

Regarded as one of Australia's most prominent mile handicaps for thoroughbreds aged three and upwards, the Epsom Handicap has been a significant part of the Australian turf calendar since its inception in 1863. The race takes place during one of the biggest horse racing carnivals of the year, the Spring Racing Carnival.

Named after the famous Epsom Downs Racecourse in the South of England, where the world-famous Epsom Derby is held annually, the race has established a rich history. Many of Australia's best milers and middle-distance horses leave their marks on this prestigious trophy.

The first Epsom Handicap race was won by a horse named Dundee, marking the start of a long-standing tradition of excellence. Throughout its storied history, like with many other Group 1 races, the race has experienced minor modifications.

Originally contested over 1,600 metres, race organisers expanded the course to 1,800 metres in 1879. However, this change was short-lived, with the distance reverting to a mile (approximately 1,600 metres) in 1885, a format that continues to this day.

Several memorable moments and records are associated with the Epsom Handicap. In 1897, jockey Jim McHugh, who was just 11 years old at the time, won the event in what was only his second race. Donald Nicolson remarkably managed to win this race five consecutive times from 1880 to 1884. 

Gai Waterhouse holds the record for the most wins by a trainer, with seven victories, while the legendary mare Winx, trained by Chris Waller, claimed her first Sydney Group 1 in this race, a notable milestone in her extraordinary unbeaten streak of 33 races.

The Epsom Handicap gained further prestige when it was upgraded from principal status to Group 1 status in 1979, solidifying its position as one of the most sought-after victories in Australian horse racing. It's one of the major drawcards of the Sydney Spring Carnival and forms a part of "Super Saturday".

Perhaps the most memorable moment in Epsom Handicap history came courtesy of Super Impose. He achieved an unprecedented feat by winning four consecutive mile races - two Epsoms and two Doncasters - with his run culminating in a triumphant performance in the 1991 Epsom Handicap under a significant 61kg weight.

Epsom Handicap results incoming! If you want to know all the details about who won the latest race, you’ve come to the right place. We have a table with the full finishing order of all the runners in the race along with a race replay, so you can relive all the action as it happened.

In the 2024 Epsom Handicap, we saw Ceolwulf, the pre-race favourite, come from barrier 14 to win the race. The 4YO gelding finished 1.3L ahead of the James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten, who also jumped from a wide barrier, 19. 

Continuing the theme of wide barriers, Royal Patronage, who jumped from barrier 17, finished in third place, 2.1L off the pace. The 2024 Epsom Handicap was run in a time of 1:34.46 and there was a total of 9.7L that split the first and last runners across the finishing post.

Check out the full Epsom Handicap results below:

It’s time to relive all the action! Check out the full race replay for the Epsom Handicap below:

If you want to know which runner won the Epsom Handicap in recent years, this is the section for you. We’ve got all the recent Epsom Handicap winners from 2010 onwards. Check out all the details below:

Before you go, if you’ve got any more questions about the Epsom Handicap, you should check out our FAQs section. Here, we answer some of the most common questions people have about the race. Check out all the details below: