Result: God's Window, our wet-track roughie, won the 2026 Epsom Handicap for Chris Waller and apprentice Siena Grima, from Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten.
The 2026 Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 handicap over 1600 metres at Royal Randwick, run as Race 8 at 4:10pm AEST on Saturday 3 October 2026 for $1.5 million. Autumn Boy is the favourite at $3.80, with unbeaten New Zealand mare Well Written at $4.40 and Attica at $6.00. Punt Hub's value bet is No. 17 Declichy Boulevard, each way at around $21 to $23. She won over this track and trip at her last start in a time close to Autumn Glow's, draws barrier two and drops 9.5kg.
Hellsing has been scratched, leaving 18 runners. Chris Waller has seven of them as he chases a seventh Epsom, which would equal the race record shared by Gai Waterhouse and T.J. Smith. Rain is forecast for raceday, so the track and the weather matter more than usual in this preview. All odds below are Punt Hub's best displayed win prices. You can follow the live market on the Punt Hub Epsom race page.
Epsom Handicap 2026 tips at a glance
Value bet (strong): 17. Declichy Boulevard (barrier 2, 50kg, Andrew Adkins). Each way, $23 best displayed.
Main dangers: 6. Well Written ($4.40) and 8. Attica ($6.00).
Next best: 19. Mr Miller ($14), the lightly raced Waller four-year-old on the 50kg minimum.
Wet-track roughie: 16. God's Window ($46), a Randwick mile winner on heavy ground.
Punt Hub selections: 17 – 6 – 8 – 19.
Against: 3. Autumn Boy ($3.80). A top-class horse, but too short for us in an 18-runner handicap.
Epsom Handicap 2026 key facts
Race detail | 2026 TAB Epsom Handicap | Date | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
|---|---|
Venue | Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney NSW |
Race | Race 8, TAB Epsom (Group 1) |
Start time | 4:10pm AEST |
Distance | 1600 metres, turf, clockwise |
Conditions | Handicap, three-year-olds and upwards; apprentices cannot claim |
Prizemoney | $1,500,000 ($870,000 to the winner) |
Field | 19 accepted, 18 runners after Hellsing (No. 11) was scratched |
Weights | Ceolwulf top weight on 59kg; seven runners on the 50kg minimum |
Track | Rated Soft 5 at acceptances, reported as Good 4 on Friday 2 October; rail true |
Forecast | 95% chance of rain on Saturday, 5 to 20mm, possible afternoon thunderstorm |
2025 winner | Autumn Glow (Chris Waller, Kerrin McEvoy) |
All times are AEST. Daylight saving starts in NSW on Sunday 4 October, so the race runs on standard time.
Epsom Handicap 2026 field, barriers and odds
The table lists each runner's barrier, weight, jockey, trainer and recent form. Odds are Punt Hub's best displayed win price across the bookmakers Punt Hub compares.
No. | Horse | Barrier | Kg | Jockey | Trainer | Form | Win odds | 1 | Ceolwulf (NZ) | 7 | 59 | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 6x523 | $13.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Tom Kitten | 4 | 57.5 | Adam Hyeronimus | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 17x00 | $34.00 |
3 | Autumn Boy | 1 | 55.5 | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 12x82 | $3.80 |
4 | Idle Flyer | 18 | 55 | Jason Collett | Matthew Smith | 1x644 | $19.00 |
5 | Lady Shenandoah | 16 | 55 | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller | 42x44 | $13.00 |
6 | Well Written | 3 | 55 | Zac Lloyd | Stephen Marsh | 111x1 | $4.40 |
7 | Militarize (NZ) | 19 | 53.5 | Tim Clark | Chris Waller | 623x6 | $61.00 |
8 | Attica | 6 | 51.5 | Kerrin McEvoy | Joseph Pride | 80x23 | $6.00 |
9 | Vivy Air | 9 | 51 | Reece Jones | Ciaron Maher | 300x8 | $81.00 |
10 | Fully Lit | 8 | 51 | Winona Costin | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 0x341 | $26.00 |
11 | Hellsing (IRE) | 12 | 51 | Braith Nock (a) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 011x5 | Scratched |
12 | Perfumist (NZ) | 17 | 50 | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker | 071x1 | $18.00 |
13 | Matcha Latte | 15 | 50 | Robbie Dolan | Nacim Dilmi | 13x32 | $67.00 |
14 | Panova | 14 | 50 | Alysha Collett | Chris Waller | 712x6 | $81.00 |
15 | Plymouth | 11 | 50 | Jackson Radley (a) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 031x6 | $126.00 |
16 | God's Window (GB) | 13 | 50 | Siena Grima (a) | Chris Waller | 123x5 | $46.00 |
17 | Declichy Boulevard | 2 | 50 | Andrew Adkins | Chris Waller | 15x31 | $23.00 |
18 | Encap | 10 | 50 | Mollie Fitzgerald (a) | Gary Portelli | 29x04 | $101.00 |
19 | Mr Miller (NZ) | 5 | 50 | Tyler Schiller | Chris Waller | 2x113 | $14.00 |
Prices can change, and scratchings close at 7:30am AEST on Saturday. See the live Epsom odds comparison for the latest market.
Epsom Handicap 2026 market overview
The market is a two-horse affair at the top. Autumn Boy is $3.80 and Well Written $4.40, with Attica the only other runner under $10. Attica has firmed from his $9.00 opening price to $6.00, the biggest move in the race. Autumn Boy has held steady.
Ceolwulf and Lady Shenandoah are next at $13 and Mr Miller is $14. Declichy Boulevard has drifted slightly, from $21 to $23 at the best displayed price, and the rest of the field is at $46 or longer. History matters here. Since 2008, 13 of the 19 Epsom winners, including both horses in the 2022 dead heat, started at single-figure odds. The race favours the top of the market, but not without exceptions.
Our Epsom value bet: Declichy Boulevard
The Punt Hub tipping desk's verdict is simple. Declichy Boulevard bolted in at her last start over this track and trip in a slick time, draws barrier two and drops 9.5kg. At around $21 to $23 we are all over her. Here is the evidence behind that view.
The 19 September win was quick
Declichy Boulevard won a Benchmark 88 over the Randwick 1600m on 19 September, carrying 59.5kg and beating Knobelas by 2.27 lengths. Earlier the same afternoon, Autumn Glow won the Group 2 7 Stakes over the same course and distance. Autumn Glow is last year's Epsom winner and the best miler in the country.
Randwick, 19 September 2026 | Race 3, Benchmark 88 | Race 8, 7 Stakes (Group 2) | Winner | Declichy Boulevard | Autumn Glow |
|---|---|---|
Weight carried | 59.5kg | 57kg |
Winning time (1600m) | 1:34.04 | 1:33.78 |
Margin | 2.27 lengths | 1.34 lengths |
Track and rail | Good 4, rail +6m | Good 4, rail +6m |
Jockey | James McDonald | James McDonald |
Declichy Boulevard was only 0.26 seconds slower than Autumn Glow, about a length and a half, while carrying 2.5kg more in a benchmark race. To be fair to the comparison, Autumn Glow led and controlled the tempo, running her last 600 metres in 33.58 seconds, and a sit-and-sprint pace usually produces a slower overall time. That cuts both ways. Even so, a benchmark mare running the Randwick mile in 1:34.04 under 59.5kg is a Group-standard figure.
The weight drop is huge
She goes from 59.5kg to the 50kg minimum, a 9.5kg drop. Only Attica, down 6.5kg from his Tramway Stakes run, gets a comparable drop among the leading chances. Handicaps are designed to bring the field together. Declichy Boulevard's handicap rating is only 97, so on the 50kg limit she is in the race on terms the assessor could not make any harder.
The draw and the profile fit
Barrier two should give Andrew Adkins a run in the first half of the field on the fence. Last start she came from midfield to win, so she does not need to lead. The profile is familiar. In 2023 Waller won this race with Rediener, drawn barrier two, carrying 50kg and starting at $9.50. Declichy Boulevard also has two wins at Randwick and runs third-up, having placed third-up in a previous preparation.
She handles rain
Rain is the big unknown on Saturday, and it is not a problem for her. She is 1 win, 1 second and 1 third from three starts on soft ground, so she has never missed a place on a rain-affected track. She came back in May from a tendon injury that had kept her out for more than a year, and won first-up at Randwick. This preparation she has run a close third in the Goulburn Cup and then won at Randwick, so the injury looks well behind her.
The case against
A tip without its risks isn't worth much, so here they are. This is a big jump from a Benchmark 88 to an open Group 1. Mares have won the Epsom only four times since 1983, although two of those wins came in the last six runnings (Probabeel in 2020 and Autumn Glow in 2025). James McDonald, who rode her last start, chooses stablemate Autumn Boy. Some will argue she beat a moderate field on 19 September. Our answer to that is the clock.
Price guide: we are happy at anything $15 or bigger. At $21 to $23 the place price alone, around $5.50 at the time of writing, makes each way the right play.
Epsom Handicap 2026 contenders and form analysis
Autumn Boy (3), the favourite
Autumn Boy has two Group 1 wins, the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m and the Rosehill Guineas over 2000m, and his form is the best in the race. In the autumn he ran second in the Randwick Guineas and the Doncaster Mile over this course, the Doncaster on a Soft 7, both times behind Sheza Alibi. He ran second to her again in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, beaten 2.75 lengths under 58.5kg.
He drops to 55.5kg, draws barrier one, wears blinkers and has James McDonald back aboard. He is 2 wins and 2 seconds from five starts on soft ground and runs third-up, a stage at which he has won before. We were against him on the day, gently. There is plenty to like and he could easily prove us wrong. But $3.80 is a short price in an 18-runner Group 1 handicap, and all three of his defeats at the mile came against a better horse on the day. We're happy to take him on with runners at bigger odds.
Well Written (6), the unbeaten Kiwi
Stephen Marsh's mare is seven from seven, with two Group 1 wins: the NZ 1000 Guineas and the Proisir Plate at Ellerslie, which she won by 1.75 lengths first-up on 5 September. She has won all four of her starts on soft ground, so the forecast rain suits her. Barrier three and Zac Lloyd's tactical riding should put her on or near the speed.
The question is the opposition she has been beating. She has never met Australian Group 1 milers, and 55kg is half a kilo more than Autumn Glow carried to win this race last year. She is a genuine danger, more so if it rains.
Attica (8), the market mover
Joe Pride's four-year-old won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m last October and the Dulcify Stakes on this card a year ago. This campaign he has run second to Althoff in the Spring Preview and third behind Headley Grange in the Tramway Stakes under 58kg. He now drops to 51.5kg, has blinkers added and is ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who has been reducing to make the weight. Third-up, with a weight drop and gear change, he has every chance. His odds firming from $9 to $6 suggest plenty of others agree.
Mr Miller (19), the improver
Mr Miller has had six starts for 3 wins, 2 seconds and a third. He won two benchmark races easily this campaign, then ran third as the $1.80 favourite in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap, missing the start and settling back against a leader-friendly pattern. Back to 50kg from barrier five, he steps up sharply in grade. His handicap rating of 88 is the lowest in the field, which is the case for him: the handicapper had very little to work with.
Ceolwulf (1), the 2024 winner
Ceolwulf won this race two years ago and is in his best form for some time. He ran second in the Chelmsford Stakes and third in the 7 Stakes, beaten 1.5 lengths by Autumn Glow. The problem is 59kg and no blinkers. Only two horses have carried more than 57kg to win since 1983, both of them Super Impose. Ceolwulf is better suited to the place market than the win.
Idle Flyer (4) and Lady Shenandoah (5), drawn wide
Both are Group 1-winning mares on 55kg, both have strong Randwick records, and both drew poorly: barrier 18 for Idle Flyer and 16 for Lady Shenandoah. Idle Flyer closed well for fourth in the 7 Stakes and is well weighted on that run. Lady Shenandoah won the Flight Stakes over this course on Epsom Day 2024 but has not won since March last year. Both need luck in running.
Fully Lit (10), last year's runner-up
Fully Lit ran second to Autumn Glow in last year's Epsom and won the Cameron Handicap from the front last start. On 51kg with Winona Costin, he is the likeliest leader. The question is whether he can hold on against more pressure than he faced at Newcastle.
God's Window (16), the wet-track roughie
God's Window won over the Randwick mile on heavy ground in May and has 2 wins, a second and a third from six starts on soft. He finished well along the rail behind Skyhook in the Theo Marks Stakes, and Skyhook has since won the Shannon Stakes. On 50kg he is a serious each-way roughie if the forecast rain arrives.
The rest of the field
Perfumist (12) won the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes impressively but must work forward from barrier 17. Tom Kitten (2), second in the 2024 Epsom, has been below his best in two runs this campaign. Militarize (7) is a Group 1 winner but draws barrier 19. Matcha Latte (13), Vivy Air (9), Panova (14), Encap (18) and Plymouth (15) need career-best runs.
Epsom Handicap 2026 speed map and barriers
The race starts from a chute with a straight run of about 650 metres to the first turn. That gives wide runners time to find a position, so barriers matter less than at most Group 1 mile starts. Expected positions:
Position | Expected runners (barrier) | Leaders | Fully Lit (8), Matcha Latte (15), Perfumist (17) |
|---|---|
On or near the pace | Well Written (3), Autumn Boy (1), Mr Miller (5), Idle Flyer (18) if she crosses |
Midfield | Declichy Boulevard (2), Attica (6), Ceolwulf (7), Tom Kitten (4), Vivy Air (9), Encap (10), Plymouth (11) |
Back | God's Window (13), Panova (14), Lady Shenandoah (16), Militarize (19) |
Expect a genuine tempo. Matcha Latte can give Perfumist a lead across from the outside, with Idle Flyer following if pushed forward. That kind of pressure suits runners who can sit midfield and finish, such as Declichy Boulevard, Attica and Ceolwulf. It also means Autumn Boy and Well Written may need to start their runs earlier than ideal.
History says the draw is not decisive. We analysed every winner since 1983, leaving out the 2022 dead heat. In that period, 23 of 41 winners came from barrier 10 or wider and only six from barriers one to five. An inside draw makes the run easier, but it is not a historical edge.
Randwick track condition and weather for the Epsom
Randwick was rated Soft 5 at acceptances and reported as Good 4 on Friday 2 October. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a 95% chance of rain on Saturday, with 5 to 20mm likely and a possible afternoon thunderstorm. Expect a rain-affected track by 4:10pm. These are the soft-ground records of the main chances:
Runner | Soft-track record | Wet-track view | Well Written | 4 from 4 wins | Big plus |
|---|---|---|
Autumn Boy | 2 wins, 2 seconds from 5 | Proven |
Declichy Boulevard | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third from 3 | Never unplaced on soft |
God's Window | 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third from 6; won the Randwick mile on heavy ground | Improves with rain |
Perfumist | 3 wins, 1 second from 8 | Handles it |
Attica | 1 win, 1 second from 4 | Handles it |
Ceolwulf | 1 win, 1 third from 7 | Prefers a better track |
Watch the earlier races on the card, especially the Flight Stakes and the Metropolitan, for a rail or on-pace bias. Knobelas, whom Declichy Boulevard beat on 19 September, also runs earlier in the day and will be a useful guide to that form.
Epsom Handicap 2026 betting strategy
In an 18-runner Group 1 handicap, place betting is a large part of the value. Bookmakers pay a place for the first three, and a $21 runner usually pays around a quarter of its win price for a place. Here is how we would bet $100:
Bet | Selection | Stake | Win | 17. Declichy Boulevard | $25 |
|---|---|---|
Place | 17. Declichy Boulevard | $35 |
Quinella | 17 with 6, 8, 19 (3 combinations, 667% flexi) | $20 |
Trifecta | 17 / 6, 8, 19 / 1, 4, 6, 8, 16, 19 (15 combinations, 133% flexi) | $20 |
Total | $100 |
If it pours: add 16. God's Window to the second leg of the trifecta and consider a small each-way saver.
If Declichy Boulevard firms under $15: move more of the stake to the place bet and the quinella, where the value remains.
Why no Autumn Boy: leaving the $3.80 favourite out of the exotics is deliberate. If he wins, these bets lose, but when a short favourite misses, quinella and trifecta dividends are much bigger. That is the trade we're making.
This plan is an example only. Bet only what you can afford to lose.
Epsom Handicap trends and statistics
Favourites: nine outright favourites have won since 1983, including the last two (Ceolwulf at $4.00 in 2024 and Autumn Glow at $1.75 in 2025).
Price: 13 of 19 winners since 2008 started at single figures.
Age: 28 of 43 winners since 1983 were four-year-olds. Autumn Boy, Well Written, Attica, Mr Miller and Panova fit the profile; Declichy Boulevard is five.
Mares: only four have won since 1983: Secret Admirer, Winx, Probabeel and Autumn Glow.
Weight: only Super Impose (58.5kg in 1990 and 61kg in 1991) has carried more than 57kg to win since 1983. Fifteen of 43 winners carried 52kg or less.
Barriers: 23 of 41 winners since 1983, excluding the 2022 dead heat, came from barrier 10 or wider.
Trainers: Chris Waller has six Epsom wins: Boban (2013), He's Your Man (2014), Winx (2015), Kolding (2019), Rediener (2023) and Autumn Glow (2025). A seventh would equal Gai Waterhouse and T.J. Smith, who share the record with seven each.
Victoria: no Victorian-trained horse has won since Golden Sword in 1993.
Recent Epsom Handicap winners
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Kg | SP | 2025 | Autumn Glow | Kerrin McEvoy | Chris Waller | 14 | 54.5 | $1.75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 14 | 54 | $4.00 |
2023 | Rediener | Kathy O'Hara | Chris Waller | 2 | 50 | $9.50 |
2022 (dead heat) | Top Ranked / Ellsberg | Hugh Bowman / Brenton Avdulla | Annabel Neasham / Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 3 / 2 | 56.5 / 56 | $4.60 / $16.00 |
2021 | Private Eye | Regan Bayliss | Joseph Pride | 7 | 51 | $11.00 |
2020 | Probabeel | Kerrin McEvoy | Jamie Richards | 15 | 52.5 | $6.50 |
2019 | Kolding | Glen Boss | Chris Waller | 12 | 50.5 | $5.50 |
2018 | Hartnell | Hugh Bowman | James Cummings | 10 | 57 | $20.00 |
2017 | Happy Clapper | Blake Shinn | Patrick Webster | 2 | 57 | $2.40 |
2016 | Hauraki | James McDonald | John O'Shea | 10 | 56 | $6.50 |
In 2025, Autumn Glow beat Fully Lit and Pericles. Fully Lit is back this year trying to go one better.
Epsom Handicap history
The Epsom was first run in 1865, when Dundee won it. It is named after Epsom Downs, home of the Epsom Derby, and the 2026 edition is the 161st running. Group 1 since 1979, it is Sydney's premier spring mile and ranks behind only the Doncaster Mile among the city's great handicaps.
Marvel carried a record 64.5kg to win in 1891. Gunsynd won in 1971, and Super Impose won the Epsom and Doncaster in both 1990 and 1991. Winx won the 2015 Epsom with 57kg, her first Sydney Group 1. Seven horses have won the race twice, most recently Desert War (2004 and 2005), and 2022 produced only the third dead heat in its history. The winner earns exemption from the ballot for the following autumn's Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Epsom Handicap 2026 prizemoney
First: $870,000
Second: $285,000
Third: $142,500
Fourth: $68,000
Fifth: $32,000
Sixth, seventh and eighth: $15,000 each
Ninth and tenth: $10,000 each
The official allocation also includes $22,500 for the Equine Welfare Fund and $15,000 for the Jockey Welfare Fund.
Epsom Day 2026 race times at Randwick
R1, Midway Handicap, 1800m, 12:05pm
R2, Arrowfield Breeders' Plate, 1000m, 12:40pm
R3, Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes, 1000m, 1:15pm
R4, Dulcify Stakes, 1600m, 1:50pm
R5, United Resource Management Handicap, 1600m, 2:25pm
R6, Darley Flight Stakes (Group 1), 1600m, 3:00pm
R7, The Metropolitan, 2400m, 3:35pm
R8, TAB Epsom Handicap (Group 1), 1600m, 4:10pm
R9, Premiere Stakes, 1200m, 4:45pm
R10, TAB One Pool Handicap, 1200m, 5:25pm
How to watch the Epsom Handicap
The best place to watch is at Royal Randwick. Tickets for TAB Epsom Day are available through the Australian Turf Club. If you can't get there, you can watch on:
Channel 7 and the 7plus app (free to air).
Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky Thoroughbred Central.
Racing NSW's live stream, and the Sky Racing streams available through many bookmaker accounts.
Epsom Handicap 2026 frequently asked questions
When and what time is the 2026 Epsom Handicap?
The 2026 Epsom Handicap is on Saturday 3 October at Royal Randwick in Sydney. It is Race 8, scheduled to start at 4:10pm AEST.
How long is the Epsom Handicap?
The Epsom is run over 1600 metres, a mile, on the Randwick turf, starting from a chute with about 650 metres to the first turn. It takes around one and a half minutes; last start Declichy Boulevard ran the trip in 1:34.04.
Who is favourite for the 2026 Epsom Handicap?
Autumn Boy is favourite at a best displayed $3.80 on Punt Hub. Well Written is $4.40 and Attica $6.00. Prices can change.
What are Punt Hub's Epsom Handicap tips?
Punt Hub's selections are 17. Declichy Boulevard, 6. Well Written, 8. Attica and 19. Mr Miller. Our value bet is Declichy Boulevard each way at around $21 to $23. We're against the favourite, Autumn Boy, at $3.80.
What is the best roughie in the 2026 Epsom?
Declichy Boulevard is our best value runner. If the track becomes heavy, God's Window at around $46 is the wet-track roughie, having won over the Randwick mile on heavy ground in May.
What will the track be like for the Epsom?
Randwick was rated Soft 5 at acceptances and reported as Good 4 on Friday 2 October. With 5 to 20mm of rain forecast for Saturday, expect a rain-affected track. Check the official rating on raceday morning.
Has anything been scratched from the Epsom?
Hellsing (No. 11, barrier 12) has been scratched, leaving 18 runners. Final scratchings close at 7:30am AEST on Saturday.
How much prizemoney is the Epsom Handicap worth?
The 2026 Epsom Handicap is worth $1.5 million. The winner receives $870,000.
Who won the Epsom Handicap last year?
Autumn Glow won the 2025 Epsom for Chris Waller and Kerrin McEvoy, starting at $1.75. Fully Lit was second and Pericles third.
Which trainer has won the most Epsom Handicaps?
Gai Waterhouse and T.J. Smith share the record with seven wins each. Chris Waller has six, and seven runners in this year's field.
Do inside barriers help in the Epsom?
Not historically. Since 1983, 23 of 41 winners (excluding the 2022 dead heat) came from barrier 10 or wider, because the long run to the first turn lets wide runners find a position.