You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident youâre betting with more than just gut instinct.
2026 Rowley Handicap Stakes Preview
Scheduled to take place during the Guineas Festival in May of each year at the Newmarket racecourse is this Heritage Handicap, the race is a Class 2 race that is open to runners aged four or older and is run over a six-furlong trip. The race in the past has attracted big fields and has also produced a lot of winners priced up 10/1 or bigger.
For sponsorship purposes, the 2026 renewal of the Rowley Handicap Stakes will hold the title of 'Betfred Handicap'.
Rowley Handicap Stakes Information:
- Rowley Handicap Stakes Past Winners
- Rowley Handicap Stakes Trainer Statistics
- Rowley Handicap Stakes Jockey Statistics
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Newmarket tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information during the Guineas Festival, head down to the Other Principal races during the Newmarket Guineas Festival section for links to these. In addition to those, we also cover numerous races at Newmarket during the flat season; you can find links to those here.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Rowley Handicap Stakes market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2021, when the race had an over-round of 110%. The race in 2007 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 147%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Rowley Handicap Stakes, the over-round has been 129%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ129 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Rowley Handicap Stakes Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Rowley Handicap Stakes Trend Analysis. With the field now finalised, we have the Rowley Handicap Stakes Trend Shortlist, which is created using the listed trends.
These are the top three quickest-run Rowley Handicap Stakes races over the last 20 renewals:
- Eastern Impact (1:09.82) in 2015
- Evens And Odds (1:09.90) in 2009
- More Thunder (1:09.94) in 2025
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Rowley Handicap Stakes next time out, then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -8.50. Ahead of the 2026 Rowley Handicap Stakes, why not head over to the racing predictions for tips on other races today?
When looking over the past 20 renewals, a time of 1:09.82 was set by Eastern Impact in 2015, trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Jack Garritty, which is the quickest time over that period. The slowest winning time was set in 2012 when Maarek won in a time of 1:14.03 for trainer David Peter Nagle, who booked Joseph O'Brien in the saddle.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Rowley Handicap Stakes Past Winners
Here are the Rowley Handicap Stakes' past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. Also detailed is the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Rowley Handicap Stakes are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 1:09.94 | More Thunder (IRE) 4yo 8-9 (8 of 13) 11/4F | Tom Marquand William Haggas (GB) |
| 2024 1:11.48 | Desert Cop (GB) 4yo 8-12 (15 of 15) 22/1 | Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding (GB) |
| 2023 1:13.62 | Probe (GB) 5yo 8-9 (22 of 21) 15/2 | Kieran O'Neill Jennie Candlish (GB) |
| 2022 1:10.81 | Blackrod (GB) 4yo 8-12 (4 of 19) 13/2 | Connor Beasley Michael Dods (GB) |
| 2021 1:11.42 | Chil Chil (GB) 5yo 9-7 (3 of 7) 11/4F | Silvestre De Sousa Andrew Balding (GB) |
| 2019 1:10.66 | On The Warpath (GB) 4yo 9-3 (5 of 10) 9/4F | William Buick Charlie Appleby (GB) |
| 2018 1:10.97 | Gifted Master (IRE) 5yo 9-10 (12 of 15) 8/1 | James Doyle Hugo Palmer (GB) |
| 2017 1:10.63 | Mr Lupton (IRE) 4yo 9-9 (4 of 14) 10/1 | Gerald Mosse Richard Fahey (GB) |
| 2016 1:11.48 | Englishman (GB) 6yo 8-4 (15 of 16) 12/1 | Joe Fanning Milton Bradley (GB) |
| 2015 1:09.82 | Eastern Impact (IRE) 4yo 9-5 (6 of 22) 16/1 | Jack Garritty (5lbs) Richard Fahey (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Rowley Handicap Stakes have been based:
- GB: 19 winners with an additional 52 placings from 379 runners
- IRE: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 4 runners
- AUS: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
- FR: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
- QA: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
Rowley Handicap Stakes Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Rowley Handicap Stakes over the last 20 renewals is Andrew Balding, who has won the race twice, with those two winners coming from Chil Chil (2021) and Desert Cop (2024).
Here are the Rowley Handicap Stakes trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Balding | 11-2-5 | +15.75 | +15.98 |
| Robert Cowell | 9-1-1 | +17.00 | +7.63 |
| Clive Cox | 8-0-1 | -8.00 | -5.00 |
| Michael Appleby | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Julie Camacho | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck | 2-0-2 | -2.00 | +1.88 |
| Jane Chapple-Hyam | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Peter Charalambous & James Clutterbuck | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
Rowley Handicap Stakes Jockey Statistics
Here are the Rowley Handicap Stakes jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals for jockeys who have rides in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Buick (Coul Angel) | 12-1-5 | -8.75 | +0.86 |
| James Doyle (Indian Run) | 11-1-3 | -2.00 | +2.25 |
| Tom Marquand (Jakajaro) | 5-1-2 | -1.25 | +2.35 |
| Oisin Murphy (Sir Les Patterson) | 4-1-1 | +19.00 | +10.75 |
| David Egan (Brian) | 4-0-1 | -4.00 | -3.00 |
| Hollie Doyle (El Bodon) | 3-0-0 | -3.00 | -3.00 |
| Marco Ghiani (Apollo One) | 2-0-1 | -2.00 | +2.63 |
| Rossa Ryan (Addison Grey) | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Billy Loughnane (Invictus Gold) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
2026 Rowley Handicap Stakes Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): (26, 4), 12, 17, (8, 12), 3, 2, (4, 12), (6, 7), (1, 2), 3, 8, 6, (6, 7), 6, 1, (1, 3), 6, 19, 15, 1
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (66%) - Had 3 - 11 placings (Career)
- 20 / 20 (66%) - Fewer than 8 placings (Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (73%) - Fewer than 8 placings (Trip)
- 20 / 20 (75%) - Ran in 6 - 34 races (Career)
- 20 / 20 (77%) - Fewer than 19 races (Trip)
- 20 / 20 (79%) - No more than +2yrs (Vs Min Age)
- 20 / 20 (79%) - No older than a 6yo
- 20 / 20 (80%) - In a field of 7 - 17 (Last Win)
- 18 / 20 (78%) - Won within last 9 starts
- 18 / 20 (79%) - Placed within last 4 starts
- 17 / 20 (70%) - Achieved a TS of 77+ (Last 3)
- 17 / 20 (73%) - Achieved a TS of 80+ (Last 5)
- 17 / 20 (83%) - Held an OR of 85+ (Going)
- 16 / 20 (67%) - Achieved a TS of 77+ (Last Win)
- 15 / 20 (43%) - No bigger than 14/1 (Career Place)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Newmarket racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Rowley Handicap Stakes. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Rowley Handicap Stakes by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
Rowley Handicap Stakes Trend Shortlist
Newmarket will host the 2026 renewal of the Rowley Handicap Stakes, which will be run at 1:45 pm on Saturday, 2nd May 2026, and these are the runners who perform best based on the trends, along with the trainer, jockey and their record in the race (Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP):
- 15/15 Addison Grey (5/1)
- Clive Cox (8-0-1 -8.00 / -5.00)
- Rossa Ryan (2-0-0 -2.00 / -2.00)
- 15/15 Invictus Gold (8/1)
- Tom Clover (0-0-0 0.00 / 0.00)
- Billy Loughnane (1-0-0 -1.00 / -1.00)
Others: Double Rush (14/15), Jakajaro (14/15), El Bodon (13/15), Indian Run (12/15), Sir Les Patterson (11/15), Coul Angel (11/15), Brian (10/15) and Apollo One (3/15).
*Trainer & Jockey numbers are Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP, Runners, Odds and Trends Passed/Failed correct at the time of posting (11:40 am Thursday 30th April 2026), if no odds were available at the time of posting, then forecasted odds are used.
Rowley Handicap Stakes Trend Analysis
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners ran in a field of 10 on debut, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-51.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2025: Winner in 8 (2,3) [13 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 15 (5,12) [15 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 22 (5,6,15) [21 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 4 (11,5,10) [19 Runners]
- 2021: Winner in 3 (6) [7 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the Rowley Handicap Stakes is Newmarket (Rowley); there have been a total of 4 winners of this race who ran at Newmarket (Rowley) last time out. The next best courses, which have produced the second most winners, are Lingfield (AW) and Doncaster; there have been a total of 3 winners from each of those courses.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 19 winners from a total of 362 runners, while female runners have produced 1 winner from a total of 24 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Rowley Handicap Stakes; that stallion, Oasis Dream, has produced 2 winners (2024,2014).
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Rowley Handicap Stakes despite multiple attempts:
- Acclamation (0 Wins from 13 runners)
- Dark Angel (0 Wins from 8 runners)
- Piccolo (0 Wins from 8 runners)
- Compton Place (0 Wins from 7 runners)
- Invincible Spirit (0 Wins from 7 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Off The Record in 2008, winning for James Given at odds of 25/1 under the guidance of Richard Hughes. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 4 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Rowley Handicap Stakes, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page.
Route to the Rowley Handicap Stakes
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Rowley Handicap Stakes. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - More Thunder Newmarket (Rowley) - 1st of 13 (10/1) | Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap |
| 2024 - Desert Cop Kempton (AW) - 12th of 12 (11/1) | Virgin Bet Fives Handicap |
| 2023 - Probe Newmarket (Rowley) - 2nd of 11 (4/1) | Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap |
| 2022 - Blackrod Ayr - 3rd of 24 (9/2) | Ayr Silver Cup |
| 2021 - Chil Chil Newmarket (Rowley) - 2nd of 11 (7/1) | bet365 Handicap |
| 2019 - On The Warpath Newmarket (Rowley) - 2nd of 10 (5/2) | bet365 Handicap |
| 2018 - Gifted Master Lingfield (AW) - 6th of 8 (5/2) | All-Weather Sprint Championships |
| 2017 - Mr Lupton Bath - 2nd of 5 (7/2) | Bathwick Tyres Conditions Stakes |
| 2016 - Englishman Windsor - 1st of 11 (7/1) | 5 Star Gallop Handicap |
| 2015 - Eastern Impact Ascot - 9th of 15 (20/1) | Ascot Challenge Cup |
Other Principal races during the Newmarket Guineas Festival
Remember to head over to the Newmarket predictions page to see which runner the racing tipsters are supporting in the Rowley Handicap Stakes. Below are the other principal races that we cover during the Guineas Festival, with links to each race blog as well as information for last year's winners.
Friday at the Guineas Festival
The highlight on Friday is the Jockey Club Stakes, a Group 2 contested over one mile and four furlongs.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Newmarket Stakes | Alpine Trail (FR) 3yo - 10/11 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
| Jockey Club Stakes | Bellum Justum (IRE) 4yo - 11/2 | Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy |
| King Charles II Stakes | Cosmic Year (GB) 3yo - 6/4 | Harry Charlton Ryan Moore |
Saturday at the Guineas Festival
Saturday's highlight is the 2,000 Guineas, part of the British Champion Series, where we see the 3-year-old runners compete over a mile.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Rowley Handicap Stakes | More Thunder (IRE) 4yo - 11/4 | William Haggas Tom Marquand |
| Suffolk Stakes | Fox Legacy (GB) 4yo - 15/2 | Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy |
| Palace House Stakes | Rumstar (GB) 5yo - 7/1 | Jonathan Portman Rob Hornby |
| 2000 Guineas | Ruling Court (USA) 3yo - 9/2 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
Sunday at the Guineas Festival
Sunday is all about the fillies with the 1,000 Guineas taking centre stage, and the three-year-olds will compete over a mile trip.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Pretty Polly Stakes | Falakeyah (GB) 3yo - 6/4 | Owen Burrows Jim Crowley |
| Dahlia Stakes | Cinderellas Dream (GB) 4yo - 11/8 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
| 1000 Guineas | Desert Flower (IRE) 3yo - 1/1 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Rowley Handicap Stakes Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for Flat racing.
James Banting
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at Newmarket Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Newmarket racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
Races in April (Craven Meeting)
Races in July (July Festival)
- Bahrain Trophy Stakes
- bet365 Sprint Handicap
- July Stakes
- Princess of Wales's Stakes
- bet365 Handicap
- bet365 Trophy Heritage Handicap
- Duchess of Cambridge Stakes
- Falmouth Stakes
- bet365 Mile Handicap
- Bunbury Cup
- July Cup
- Superlative Stakes
Races in September (Cambridgeshire Meeting)
- Jockey Club Rose Bowl
- Tattersall Stakes
- Godolphin Stakes
- Joel Stakes
- Princess Royal Stakes
- Rockfel Stakes
- Rosemary Stakes
- Cambridgeshire Handicap
- Cambridgeshire Meeting Sprint Handicap
- Cheveley Park Stakes
- Jersey Lily Fillies Nursery
- Middle Park Stakes
- Royal Lodge Stakes
