The curtain comes down on the UK’s 2017 Turf Flat season with the traditional closer, the November Handicap now sponsored by Marathonbet. It also used to mark the final throes of the jockeys’ and trainers’ championships but they now conclude with Champions’ Day at Ascot. Run over 1m4f at Doncaster, the November Handicap attracts a bumper entry and 23 face the starter this year.
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 back then as it was first run at New Barns, Manchester. It was moved to Irwell in Salford in 1902 and 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 six winners being five or older, though the three-year-old Prize Money bucked that trend in 2016 and the four-year-old Sauter won last year. Before Prize Money, Malt Or Mash was the last three-year-old to win, 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.
- Only one of the last seven winners has started at bigger odds than 10/1.
- It’s unusual for a winner to have had more than seven runs in the season.
- Most recent winners had won over 1m2f or further.
- Most recent winners had been in action in September of the same year or later.
Royal Line (8/1 with Coral) was favourite for the November Handicap last year but only finished seventh and is 10lb higher. He also disappointed at Doncaster in March but did win at Epsom later. William Haggas’ My Lord And Master is the only three-year-old taking on his elders this year. He’s a general 11/1 but probably has no better than an each-way chance on going currently described as good, though rain is forecast.
An easy surface would suit Now Children (a best 10/1), who beat Wolf Country (a general 14/1) at Goodwood after finishing second to Temple Church (a general 33/1) at Newbury. Restorer (20/1 with Coral) just got the better of the wonderfully-consistent Hochfeld (also a best 20/1) at Leicester but the runner-up is a pound better off. Erik The Red (22/1 with Unibet) is another consistent sort and a previous winner at Doncaster but possibly better over 1m2f.
Reshoun (12/1 with Coral) came right back to form at Haydock but that was over 1m6f on heavy going and Hugo Palmer has not been able to get a run into To Be Wild this year. Eddystone Rock (a general 14/1) was third last year but the pick of the weights may be BIRDS OF PREY.
It’s rare for top jumps trainer Paul Nicholls to have a runner in a valuable handicap on the Flat but this looks a cracking opportunity for the improving four-year-old, who has had wind surgery since last seen. The son of Sir Prancealot won twice for John Oxx in Ireland last year and seems oblivious to conditions. He was only beaten a short-head on his first try over 1m4f at Haydock and a 2lb rise is wiped out by Megan Nicholls’ claim – the 11/1 with Unibet is likely to be shorter come the off.
Marathonbet November Handicap Current Best Odds
Royal Line 8/1, Now Children 10/1, Birds Of Prey, Buzz, To Be Wild and My Lord And Master 11/1, Reshoun 12/1, Wolf Country, Eddystone Rock and Everything For You 14/1, Baydar 16/1, Hochfeld and Restorer 20/1, Erik The Red 22/1, Not So Sleepy and Seafarer 25/1, Aasheq, Temple Church, Grey Britain and Lorelina 33/1, Fun Mac and Stargazer 40/1, What About Carlo 50/1
(Odds correct at 3pm November 8)
