Epsom Handicap 2026 Betting Odds & Race Preview

The 2026 Epsom Handicap runs on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Randwick Racecourse as one of the premier middle-distance features of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. 

The Epsom Handicap 2026 is gearing up to be one of the standout mile contests of the Sydney spring, with a stacked field of sharp milers chasing Group 1 glory under true handicap conditions at Royal Randwick. Early Epsom Handicap odds are already reacting to key lead‑up runs, weight swings and stable confidence, giving Ladbrokes punters plenty to work with as the market takes shape. With tempo, barriers and the famous Randwick rise all set to play a major role, Epsom Handicap betting strategies are heating up fast — and Ladbrokes keeps you ahead of the move with sharp insights, value plays and up‑to‑date market intel for one of Australia’s most iconic mile showdowns.

2026 Epsom Handicap Odds

The season’s latest Epsom Handicap 2026 betting odds and links to our markets on the Group 1 Randwick mile classic will be available over the spring below followed by the official finishing order after the event.

Epsom Handicap 2026 Odds

Epsom Handicap 1600m (All In)
Open Race time: 
1. Autumn Boy
2. Well Written
3. Sheza Alibi (Doubtful)
4. Attica
5. Idle Flyer
6. Ceolwulf
7. Gringotts
8. Headley Grange
9. Mr Miller
10. Fully Lit
11. Another Wil
12. Decorum
13. Evaporate
14. Lady Shenandoah
15. Mr Brightside
16. Sabaj
17. Sepals
18. Skyhook
19. Sun God
20. Tom Kitten
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 22/09/2026 03:01:57 AM (Australia/Brisbane)

Epsom Handicap Tips

Epsom Handicap tips flood in the week of the race and usually feature horses that are well-weighted under the handicap conditions. No horse has carried more than 57kg to Epsom Handicap victory since Super Impose (61kg in 1991).

Winners of the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap and the Group 2 Shannon Stakes are also good Epsom Handicap tips as these two races have produced plenty of recent champions of the Epsom Handicap results.  Kolding (2019), Probabeel (2020), Top Ranked (2022) who ran a dead heat in the Group 1 with Ellsberg, and Rediener (2023) are the latest to complete the Bill Ritchie – Epsom Handicap double.

2026 Epsom Handicap Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Epsom Handicap 2026 betting tips and exotic Group 1 Randwick selections will be detailed below for punters the week of the race, so stay tuned for the miler hopefuls to back and sack this season.

Ladbrokes Tip: Last start winners have a gun recent record in the Epsom Handicap!

Early Epsom Handicap 2026 Predictions

  • Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi, and Autumn Boy shape as the key Epsom chances.
  • Randwick’s mile suits horses with a sustained sprint and proven Group form.

Current Epsom Handicap Favourite: Autumn Glow

Autumn Glow has been installed as the early frontrunner for the 2026 Epsom Handicap, shaping as the class miler in futures markets thanks to her blend of versatility, sharp closing figures and proven Randwick credentials. She’s a sprinter‑miler who thrives under pressure and routinely produces elite late splits, though a hefty handicap and the possibility of being redirected to the King Charles III Stakes remain the key queries. A midfield draw on a Soft 5–Good 4 surface would be ideal, and with her Group 1 profile already established, she presents as one of the more appealing early Epsom Handicap futures plays before the final field takes shape.

Tip: Look for runners drawn midfield with turn‑of‑foot — Autumn Glow ticks every box.

Early Ladbrokes Prediction: Autumn Glow to win the Epsom Handicap, Sheza Alibi to run Top 3.

The Epsom Handicap is one of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival’s major mile races and runs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in late September or early October each year. Offering $1.5 million in prize money the race is held at the same meeting as The Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes and has been conducted since 1865.

2022 Epsom Handicap dead-heat winners Top Ranked & Ellsberg
2022 Epsom Handicap dead-heat winners Top Ranked & Ellsberg. Photo: Steve Hart.

The 1600m feature is open to horses aged three years and older and is named after the iconic Epsom Downs Racecourse in the South of England. It has held Group 1 status since 1979 and has been won by many notable champions including Desert War (2004 & 2005), Shogun Lodge (2000), Super Impose (1990 & 1991), Imposing (1979), Gunsynd (1971), and Sky High (1961).

More recently Chris Waller-trained horses have dominated the Epsom Handicap results including the 2015 win by superstar mare Winx and 2019 success of Kolding who went on to win the inaugural The Golden Eagle race.

Waller celebrated his fifth Epsom Handicap success in 2023 running the quinella with Rediener and Kovalica before claiming the race for a sixth time with the odds-on favourite Autumn Glow in 2025.

The Epsom Handicap winner also earns a ballot exemption into the following year’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) held at Randwick during April’s The Championships. 

Epsom Handicap Race Info

  • Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
  • Track: Randwick Racecourse
  • Distance: 1600m
  • Conditions: Handicap
  • Status: Group 1
  • Prize Money: $1.5 million
  • First Run: 1865

2026 Epsom Handicap Results

The full Epsom Handicap 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be provided below once the race is run and won on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Epsom Handicap Betting

Epsom Handicap betting markets are often led by horses that won their final lead-up into the mile classic.

Chris Waller’s undefeated mare Autumn Glow (2025) coming off spring wins in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality and Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes is the latest last-start winner to take out the Epsom

In 2019 the top two horses in Epsom Handicap betting ran the quinella with the $5.50 equal favourites Kolding and Te Akau Shark running one-two.

Chris Waller’s horses always sit highly up the Epsom Handicap odds as he prepared six of the winners between 2013 – 25 most recently Autumn Glow (2025). 

Gai Waterhouse-trained hopefuls, if in form, also feature in the Epsom Handicap markets as she has won the Epsom Handicap a record seven times, most recently with Fat Al (2012).

Epsom Handicap odds online are affected by the results of traditional lead-up races including the Theo Marks Stakes, which Winx won on way to her 2015 success in the feature, and other events offering an Epsom Handicap ballot exemption like the Shannon Stakes the week before at Rosehill Gardens.

Autumn Glow (2025) is the horse to complete the Theo Marks Stakes – Epsom Handicap double.

Favourites in Epsom Handicap betting have a solid recent record and no galloper since Captain Sonador ($15 in 2010) had won the race at double-figure Epsom Handicap odds until the massive upset by Hartnell ($20 in 2018) and then Private Eye ($11 in 2021). 

In 2022 Ellsberg was at $16 when he ran a dead heat for first in the Epsom with $4.60 pop Top Ranked. 

There was another upset in 2023 when Rediener won at Epsom odds of $9.50. 

Ceolwulf ($4 in 2024) and Autumn Glow ($1.75 in 2025) are the latest Epsom Handicap favourites to win. 

Epsom Handicap Field

The Epsom Handicap race field has a capacity of 20 starters plus four emergencies and the last year it was run at capacity was 2024 when Ceolwulf saluted for the punters.

The field of final acceptors is released on the Tuesday before the race runs on a Saturday at the start of October. 

Horses come into the Epsom Handicap field may have previously run in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) that produced Hauraki (2nd) for his 2016 win and Happy Clapper (2nd) in 2017, while that double was last completed by Racing To Win (2006). The George Main Stakes however was moved ahead of the 2023 and now runs after the Epsom as the King Charles III Stakes

Replacing the George Main Stakes on The Shorts Day at Randwick in mid-September from 2023 onwards is the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) which offers the winner anEpsom Handicap ballot exemption

The Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) run on Newcastle Gold Cup Day in mid-September offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Epsom Handicap field. Excellerator (2002) was the last horse to complete the Cameron Handicap – Epsom Handicap double

Probabeel | Photo: Steve Hart | Ladbrokes
Probabeel (2020) completed the Bill Ritchie Handicap – Epsom Handicap double. Photo: Steve Hart.

An earlier spring lead-up into the Epsom Handicap field is August’s Group 3 Show County Quality, a race the 2020 Epsom champion Probabeel ran second in that season. In 2021 Private Eye completed the Show County Quality – Epsom Handicap double. 

Any five-year-olds out of the Epsom Handicap field may back-up on The Everest Day at Randwick in the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m). 

In 2022 dead-heat Epsom Handicap winner Ellsberg went on to win both the Five Diamonds Prelude and the $2 million The Five Diamonds race. 

2026 Epsom Handicap Field

The official Epsom Handicap 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be announced by Racing NSW on the Tuesday of race week with the full line-up to be published below. 

2026 Epsom Handicap Nominations & Weights

The Epsom Handicap 2026 nominations closed on Monday the 7th of September 2026 about a month leading up to Epsom Handicap Day. 

The 2026 Epsom Handicap weights must then be declared by Monday the 14th of September 2026.

The 2026 Epsom Handicap nominations have been released and feature 92 hopeful milers including the currently undefeated Stephen Marsh-trained New Zealand mare Well Written who made it six from six in $3 million The Kiwi race across the Tasman in early March and Chris Waller’s reigning Rosehill Guineas champ Autumn Boy.

Last 10HorseSexAgeTrainerHcp Rating
1152221x04xAHHA AHHAM5Chris Waller100
23844211551ALL STARH4Fabio Martino65
3411855×211ALTHOFFG5Chris Waller98
43172253214ANEMACORE (NZ)G7Shaun Dwyer
511x4380x23ATTICAG4Joseph Pride
6271x3212x8AUTUMN BOYH4Chris Waller110
71415×6BERZELIUSC3Michael Freedman86
88x411521x6BIRDMAN (IRE)G6Chris Waller
95111x4114xBRAVE MONARCHG4Chris & Corey Munce
101x213x919xBRAVE ONEG5Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
1162111x66x1BUCCLEUCHG4Patrick Payne
1232320x25x5BUCKAROO (GB)G8Chris Waller
1314CASTILLO KINGC3Michael Freedman69
143611x66x52CEOLWULF (NZ)G6Joseph Pride
152134126xCHISPA (NZ)M4Chris Waller77
16x00x311147COEUR VOLANTE (NZ)M6Ben, Will & JD Hayes
1713×2220653COTE ATLANTIQUE (IRE)G6Henry Dwyer
18x7633x15x3DECLICHY BOULEVARDM5Chris Waller91
1921x119x1DECORUMG4Michael Freedman82
20x4004x09x8EL CASTELLOG5John Thompson
21497x60029xENCAPG6Gary Portelli98
2216222x640xESTADIO MESTALLA (IRE)G8Joseph Pride108
2333x4299x31EVAPORATE (NZ)G5Ben, Will & JD Hayes
24x049x2250xFEDERALISTG4Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
256380x272x5FEROCE (NZ)G5Dominic Sutton107
2667x603x08xFIRESTORM (NZ)M6Chris Waller98
27325x11131xFORMAL DISPLAY (GB)G6Annabel & Rob Archibald101
285512320×34FULLY LITG5Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott97
292025x4123xGOD’S WINDOW (GB)G6Chris Waller95
30x594016111GOLDEN CROSSG5Bryan Dais84
312110x924x3GRINGOTTS (NZ)G7Ciaron Maher118
320x457510x1HEADLEY GRANGEG6Joseph Pride
33722302011xHELLSING (IRE)G7Annabel & Rob Archibald102
3412x502233xHYPERBOLIC (NZ)M5Brad Widdup92
35210x411x64IDLE FLYERM5Matthew Smith
36x079x56257IT’S A KNOCKOUTM6Jason Deamer85
37050×093232JUST FOLKG10Gavin Bedggood
38314x320x44JUSTADEELG6Ben, Will & JD Hayes
39305x40579xKOVALICA (NZ)G7Chris Waller105
40472x3342x4LADY SHENANDOAHM5Chris Waller115
41x1155x212xLAZZURAM5Chris Waller115
4211x3922x91LINDERMANNG7Chris Waller
437x050x0028LOCH EAGLEG8Kris Lees96
44379x31138xLORD OF BISCAY (IRE)G7Kris Lees95
45561x44331xMAGNATEARG7Richard & Will Freedman99
46148x3613x3MATCHA LATTEG7Nacim Dilmi98
4797×2078061MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB)G8Annabel & Rob Archibald93
4823x453623xMILITARIZE (NZ)G6Chris Waller107
49718x5168x1MODELLAM5Lee & Cherie Curtis91
50120x2125x2MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ)G9Ben, Will & JD Hayes
51122×11MR MILLER (NZ)G4Chris Waller82
52623512x73xNEW ENDEAVOUR (IRE)G7Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott107
537x10113x4NIGHT AGENTG4Kris Lees70
541094x074x6OH DIAMOND LILM6David Pfieffer96
5551820×67OUTSPANC3Michael Freedman72
5611x65712x6PANOVAM4Chris Waller100
5704120x071xPERFUMIST (NZ)M5Bjorn Baker96
5820x442031xPLYMOUTHG5Ben, Will & JD Hayes
597x7838615xPORTLAND (IRE)G6Matthew Smith99
60727242228xPOUNDINGG8Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman98
61180×603042PUNCH LANEG7Anthony & Sam Freedman101
62486x68007xQUEEN OF CLUBSM4Gary Portelli70
636682x5548xRIVELLINOH4Kris Lees90
64231240×143ROLLING MAGIC (NZ)G6Richard & Will Freedman84
651126x82x1RUINATIONG4Michael Freedman76
666110x244x0SABAJG5Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)104
671x323135x3SALTY PEARLM4Ciaron Maher
68070261546xSANDPAPERG7Bjorn Baker104
69102x47x02xSEPALSG5Cliff Brown
70x311x111x2SHEZA ALIBIM4Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman118
7115x113185xSIXTIESH4Chris Waller100
72345x46121xSKYHOOKH4Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou103
7330x2411x22SOOTHSAYERG7Michael Freedman
7478x1126x01SOVEREIGN HILLG5Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott83
750510x944x2STARDOMM4Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott88
764121513×5STORM LEOPARDG4Ben, Will & JD Hayes86
7724431x121xSUN GOD (GB)G6Chris Waller105
7810×8TANNINC3Michael Freedman62
798791x7866xTAVI TIME (NZ)G7Kris Lees104
806x14x1TENENBAUMC3Brad Widdup70
8111xTHE MACHINE GUNC3Peter Snowden76
825453x117x0TOM KITTENG6Anthony & Sam Freedman
832112x450x5TRANSATLANTICG6Tony Gollan
842841x3150xVERONA ROSEM5Gary Portelli104
85231x3489x9VICTORIOUS SPIRITG4Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
8621218x300xVIVY AIRM6Ciaron Maher106
877316x5103xVON HAUKE (NZ)G7Cliff Brown
881WALLACE STATIONC3Michael Freedman60
891x100x30x3WAR MACHINE (NZ)G6Ben, Will & JD Hayes
902151x308x4WARNIE (IRE)G6Ciaron Maher
91x1145x1544WATSONG4Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott80
92111111xWELL WRITTENM4Stephen Marsh

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Epsom Handicap Form Guide

The Epsom Handicap form guide is poured over by punters before they place their bets on the spring showdown every season and lists all the horses, their allocated weights and barriers, trainers and jockeys, and other crucial info like track / distance form.

There’s lots to look at in the form guide but how horses ran in their lead-up races is especially important, while wide barriers haven’t been a hoodoo in recent years with the likes of Secret Admirer (16 in 2011), Boban (10 in 2013), He’s Your Man (10 in 2014), Winx (12 in 2015), Kolding (12 in 2019), Ceolwulf (14 in 2024), and Autumn Glow (12 in 2025) all overcoming double digit gates to win the race.

The 2024 Epsom Handicap winner Ceolwulf franked the form with a next up Group 1 King Charles III Stakes win.

The Epsom Handicap 2025 form proved rock‑solid, with classy mare Autumn Glow returning to dominate the following season. She strung together four straight wins, headlined by her Golden Eagle triumph and elite‑level victories in both the Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder Stakes in the autumn of 2026.

Epsom Handicap Form Facts

  • Chris Waller trained six of the 12 Epsom Handicap winners from 2013 – 25 most recently Autumn Glow (2025).
  • Mares have won the Epsom Handicap just four times in over 30 years with Secret Admirer (2011), Winx (2015), Probabeel (2020) and Autumn Glow (2025).
  • Double-digit barriers produced 10 winners from 2011 – 2025 – including Secret Admirer (16 of 17 in 2011), Hartnell (10 of 20 in 2018), Kolding (12 of 19 in 2019), Probabeel (15 of 17 in 2020), Ceolwulf (12 of 20 in 2024), and Autumn Glow (12 of 12 in 2025).
  • Favourites have a credible record in the race and recent Epsom Handicap results have been dominated by single-figure chances.

2026 Epsom Handicap Form

A link to our detailed Epsom Handicap 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Epsom Handicap Day

Epsom Handicap Day is one of the premier race meetings of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and is held on the first Saturday in October. 

There are three Group 1 races on the card with the Epsom Handicap supported by the Group 1 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) for the Caulfield Cup-bound stayers and the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies. 

Epsom Day also features a seven-figure Group 2 event with The Everest-bound sprinters facing off in the $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m). 

Epsom Handicap Day Group Races: 

Past Epsom Handicap Results

The Epsom Handicap race results are published after the showdown happens at Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day and features the finishing order of all the starters, any scratched horses, the winning trifecta pay-out as well as margins for those punters that bet on how much a horse would win or lose by.

There have been three Epsom Handicap dead heats throughout history with the latest in 2022 between Ellsberg and Top Ranked. 

Autumn Glow (2025) was the last Epsom Handicap winning mare

Noholme (1959) and Espiegle (1884) are the only three-year-old Epsom Handicap winners throughout history. 

Hartnell holds the current Epsom Handicap race record winning over 1600m in 2018 in a time of 1 minute 32:73 seconds. 

Recent Epsom Handicap Winners

Recent Epsom Handicap winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table. 

YearWinnerRunner-UpThirdTime
2026TBDTBDTBDTBD
2025Autumn GlowFully LitPericles1:33.14
2024CeolwulfTom KittenRoyal Patronage1:34.46
2023RedienerKovalicaGolden Mile1:34.26
2022Ellsberg / Top Ranked (Dead Heat)Hinged1:38.1
2021Private EyeAramayoDalasan1:33.7
2020ProbabeelFunstarRiodini1:32.8
2019KoldingTe Akau SharkStar Of The Seas1:34.8
2018HartnellD’argentoUnforgotten1:32.7
2017Happy ClapperTom MelbourneSnitzson1:33.1
2016HaurakiDibayaniMackintosh1:33.8
2015WinxEcuadorSons Of John1:34.5
2014He’s Your ManRoyal DescentHooked1:33.3
2013BobanStreamaToydini1:34.4
2012Fat AlAmbidexterRolling Pin1:34.5
2011Secret AdmirerPinker PinkerRed Tracer1:35.5
2010Captain SonadorTrustingSacred Choice1:34.1
2009Rock KingdomRangirangdooRoad To Rock1:38.6
2008TheseoBank RobberGallant Tess1:36.2
2007Race Not Run
2006Racing To WinDesert WarMalcolm1:35.1
2005Desert WarJohan’s ToyLotteria1:34.5
2004Desert WarOur Egyptian RaineTsuimai1:37.2
2003ClangalangGrand ArmeeForum Floozie1:35.2
2002ExcelleratorKingsgateGordo1:35.5
2001Final FantasyKingsgateCrawl1:22.5
2000Shogun LodgeLandsightingChinhoyi1:33.5

FAQs

How do I bet on the 2026 Epsom Handicap?

Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.

Which horse will win the 2026 Epsom Handicap?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Epsom Handicap is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.

When is the Epsom Handicap 2026?

The 2026 Epsom Handicap is set to run on Saturday October 3 during the peak of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. Epsom Handicap 2026 Day runs on the same date as Melbourne hosts Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington.

What is the prize money for the Epsom Handicap 2026?

The 2026 Epsom Handicap prize money is set at $1.5 million which is paid from 1st to 10th place including $870,000 going to the Epsom Handicap winner.

Where is the Epsom Handicap 2026?

The 2026 Epsom Handicap is set to run at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the world's richest turf race - The Everest - each October, and is located at Alison Road, Randwick, NSW 2031.

What distance is the Epsom Handicap run over?

The Epsom Handicap is run over 1600 metres, making it one of Australia’s premier Group 1 mile tests and a key betting highlight for Ladbrokes punters each spring.

How many horses run in the Epsom Handicap?

The Epsom Handicap race field has a capacity of 20 starters plus four emergencies and the last year it was run at capacity was 2024 when Ceolwulf saluted for the punters. The Epsom Handicap usually assembles a final field of around 18 runners, reflecting its status as one of Australia’s most competitive and sought‑after Group 1 handicaps each spring.

Who won the 2025 Epsom Handicap?

The 2025 Epsom Handicap was won by four-year-old The Autumn Sun mare Autumn Glow at $1.75 favouritism for the race's now six-time winning trainer Chris Waller with jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard on 54.5kg from barrier 12 of 12 to win by 1.44 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:33.14.