Betfred November Handicap – Horse Racing Betting November 11

Royal Line can succeed to November Handicap crown

Horse Racing Betting

A week later than usual, the curtain comes down on the 2017 Turf Flat season with the Betfred November Handicap, though the jockeys’ and trainers’ championship is now decided a few weeks earlier. Run over 1m4f at Doncaster, it usually attracts a bumper entry with the 15 that took part the last year being the smallest field in 20 years.

November Handicap History and Trends

The November Handicap can be trace its roots back to 1876. It used to be known as the Manchester November Handicap in those days 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 shortened title in 1976.
There had been a definite swing towards older horses in recent years with four of the last five winners being five or older, though the three-year-old Prize Money bucked that trend last year. Malt Or Mash was the last three-year-old to win before that, in 2007.
Litigant was successful off a mark of 106 in 2015 but the previous 29 horses to have been rated 100 or higher had been beaten. In fact, most recent winners have been rated between 89 and 99. One significant trend is that only one of the last six winners has started bigger than 10/1. It’s unusual for a winner to have had more than seven runs in the season and most had won over 1m2f or further and to have had a break. Most winners had been in action in September of the same year or later.

Though he’s now had three runs, ROYAL LINE is still a big baby and takes a while to warm to his task. But this race usually turns into a bit of a slog and that will suit John Gosden’s superbly-bred son of Dubawi, who possibly didn’t stay 1m6f at Haydock. Considering still untapped potential, the 8/1 with 888sport looks a bit of value.

Dance The Dream is 9/1 with 888sport and arrives off the back of a victory at Leicester, where he beat Top Tug (a general 12/1). Towerlands Park is an interesting runner as he was progressive on Polytrack at the end of last year. He ran well on his belated comeback at Newbury, considering he was too keen, and a first try over 1m4f should suit Michael Bell’s charge, who runs in the famous Gredley colours worn by St Leger winner User Friendly – he is a 10/1 with several bookmakers. Wild Hacked also makes some appeal at 16/1 with sponsors Betfred.

Betfred November Handicap Current Best Odds

Royal Line 8/1, Dance The Dream 9/1, Saunter and Towerlands Park 10/1, Syphax and Top Tug 12/1, Chelsea Lad, Wild Hacked and Machine Learner 16/1, Euchen Glen and Niblawi 20/1, Al Destoor, Cohesion, Gawdawpalin, Sepal and Sir Chauvelin 25/1, Azari, Eddystone Rock and Minotaur 33/1, Fun Mac, Master The World, Mirsaale and Storm King 40/1