A Closer Look for Real Punters – Epsom Handicap

Posted on October 2, 2026October 2, 2026 | Posted by TABtouch

Brad Bishop has a look at the record of Epsom Handicap topweights, brought to you by TABtouch.

The Ceolwulf story is far from complete, but as it stands he is likely to be best remembered for his deeds over the Randwick mile.

The Joe Pride-trained gelding has only won three races there, but they came in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap two years ago and the past two editions of the $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes.

His next two starts are slated to be in those events, starting with this Saturday’s $1.5 million Epsom, when he will be out to do something not achieved since the greatest Randwick miler of all.

Ceolwulf is 59kg topweight this weekend and not since Super Impose completed his famous back-to-back Doncaster/Epsom doubles under 61kg in the 1991 Epsom has that kind of weight been carried to victory in the famous mile.

‘Super’ returned to chase a historic Epsom three-peat in 1992, but had to settle for fourth under 61.5kg, which was a whopping 12.5kg above the limit.

Ceolwulf doesn’t face quite that big a task this weekend, to carry 59kg on a 50kg limit, but history doesn’t paint a good picture for those up in the weights in the Epsom.

The only horse to have carried more since Super Impose was Tie The Knot, who ran 12th under 59.5kg in 2000, while Danleigh (2010) is the other to attempt it with at least 59kg and he also finished 12th.

They are among 18 horses since 1992 to run with more than 57kg, which is the heaviest weight carried to victory in that time, by Filante, Racing To Win, Winx, Happy, Clapper and Hartnell.

Desert War was second under 58kg 20 years ago, the same position Danewin finished under 57.5kg in 1995, but they are the only placegetters. Half of the 18 finished 11th or worse.

Ceolwulf is not the only horse in this year’s race in that category this year, with Tom Kitten to run under 57.5kg.

Super Impose not the only Hall of Famer that Ceolwulf will put his name alongside if he can win this weekend, out to something that has been achieved just once and not for almost 100 years.

Super Impose is one of seven dual winners of the Epsom Handicap, only one of whom has won in non-consecutive years. That was Amounis, who won his first in 1926 and followed up in 1928.

Ceolwulf was favourite when he won his Epsom, but was $14 for this year’s race with TABtouch at 10am Thursday.

Favouritism is up for grabs, with Autumn Boy and Well Written joint-favourites with TABtouch at $3.70, and whoever starts top pick will be out to complete a favourites’ hat-trick after Autumn Glow won at $1.75 last year.

Autumn Boy and Well Written are both four years of age, as is $8 third elect Attica, and four-year-olds have been the dominant force in Epsom Handicaps.

They have won the past three, which gives them six of the past eight, and 23 of the 33 in the post-Super Impose era.

Autumn Boy, Well Written and Attica are joined by Panova and Mr Miller as the four-year-olds in this year’s event.