Punters will be hoping that there are fireworks in Doncaster on Bonfire Night as the curtain comes down on the UK Flat season on Turf with the Betfred November Handicap the final big race of the campaign.
For the first time in almost 10 years, the £50,000 handicap will be run on ground that will be on the fast side of good. There has been little rain in the Doncaster area in the last few weeks but officials have resisted the temptation to water. Recent renewals have seen exaggerated distances but we could see a much more competitive affair this year.
November Handicap History and Trends
The November Handicap can be traced back to 1876. It used to be known as the Manchester November Handicap as it was first run at New Barns, Manchester. Moved to Irwell in Salford in 1902, it was staged at Pontefract during the Second World War but returned to Irwell in 1946 until the track was closed in 1963. The race was transferred to Doncaster in 1964 and has been there ever since, adopting its current title in 1976.
There has been a definite swing towards older horses in recent years with the last four being five or older. Malt Or Mash was the last three-year-old to win in 2007 but that was also the last time that the race was run on good to firm going. There are four three-year-olds taking part this year and three of them – Cape Cova, Prize Money and Soldier In Action – are well to the fore in the ante-post betting.
Litigant pretty much blew all the trends last year when successful under top weight off a mark of 106 as the previous 29 horses to have been rated more than 100 had been beaten. Those rated 88 or less also have a poor record with most recent winners have been rated between 89 and 99. Half of this year’s field fall into that category but it could pay to take note of the betting as only one of the last five winners has started bigger than 10/1.
CAPE COVA can become the first three-year-old winner in while as he just loves the long home straight on Town Moor. Though appearing to need all of 1m7f to get up close home at Doncaster last time, he’d won earlier at the track over 1m4f and a pair of blinkers may just be the encouragement he needs to lie closer up with the pace this Saturday. He’s vying for favouritism at a general 7/1 but makes more appeal than market rival Wrangler as his trainer has won this twice in the last seven years.
Erik The Red ran well in the Cambridgeshire despite finding the trip too short. Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old has been placed twice over 1m2f at York this year and is well worth a try over the longer distance of the Betfred November Handicap so could be worth an each-way bet at 14/1 with the sponsors.
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November Handicap Current Best Odds
Cape Cova and Wrangler (7/1), Soldier In Action (12/1), Prize Money, Erik The Red and Fabricate (14/1), Litigant, Tawdeea, Qassem and What About Carlo (16/1), Dashing Star, Montaly and Not So Sleepy (20/1), Buonarroti (22/1), Cymro, Mirsaale and William Hunter (25/1), Fattsota and Green Light (28/1), Mistiroc, Sir Chauvelin and Trendsetter (33/1), Mukhayyam (40/1)
