for the best odds go to www.BritOdds.com
BP= the best price at the time of writing
1 (5) 308858 BULWARK Ian Williams 5-10-00 Stephen Donohoe
Highly thought of earlier in season, running in the top staying races, including fin ishing third in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup at York over 13.5 furlongs in May. However, he hasn’t beaten a horse in last two starts, including here at Doncaster on good to firm ground in October. First run for new trainer. He is still 5lb ahead of his last winning mark. BP= 14/1
2 (1) 1231/ BACKBORD Lucy Wadham 5-9-13 Seb Sanders
Useful performer on the Flat in Germany in 2005 and has been running over jumps since. He last started in April when he ran well at Punchestown after winning a Worcester three-mile novice hurdle easily . The trainer has had only one Flat runner in the last five years and a rating of 96 might be high for the winner of an Italian Listed race. Interesting jockey booking though and cannot be dismissed. BP= 5/1
3 (3) 62246 KASTHARI James Bethell 8-9-12 Daryll Holland
His finest hour came when dead-heating in the Doncaster Cup in 2004 (when trained by Howard Johnson), and he always seems to run well here. Took years for handicap mark to fall to acceptable level, but he is an interesting prospect after his recent sixth in Cesarewitch. BP= 7/2
4 (9) 6(3)2(4)(4) CHOCOLATE CARAMEL Amanda Perrett 5-9-01 Jim Crowley
Last two starts on the Polytrack - one disappointing the other fair - and a good second in a 12f-handicap at Goodwood in September. Beaten 25 lengths on only try at two miles but has been second at 14 furlongs. BP= 14/1
5 (4) 01305 INCHNADAMPH Tim Fitzgerald 7-9-00 Jamie Spencer
Third here over nearly two furlongs further on good to firm in August and acquitted himself well when fifth in the Cesarewitch, having finished second in the marathon in 2006. Seems to come into his own at the end of the season and should be there or thereabouts. BP= 9/4
6 (8) 93302 DR SHARP Tom Tate 7-8-13 Micky Fenton
Won similar event at Newmarket at the end of last season and caught a tartar when second in the same race this year. Another to have run well in the Cesarewitch for the last two years (10th in 2007), but best form has come on good or softer ground. An out and out stayer. Trainer in excellent form. BP= 5/1
7 (6) 22440 NED LUDD James Portman 4-8-12 Eddie Ahern
Finished 18th in the Cesarewitch, weakening from two out but ran well before that, notably when second early on at Newbury and Ascot. Will probably appreciate this ground but still a maiden on the Flat though he has won over hurdles. On a fair mark and should run well. BP= 10/1
8 (2) 58920 DIUM MAC Neville Bycroft 6-8-09 Francis Norton
Tenth and hampered here in good ground over slightly shorter trip in October when not beaten far, but another who has ran over a variety of trips. Previously second over 14 furlongs at his favourite racecourse Redcar. This step up to two miles could see a change in fortune. BP= 20/1
9 (7) 61764 WINGED D’ARGENT Bernard Llewellyn 6-8-09 Robert Havlin NON-RUNNER
SUMMARY
This looks a fairly open race and Ned Ludd is excellent value each-way if eight go to post.
THE 2007 CARTIER RACING AWARDS ON THE HORIZON
The 2007 Cartier Racing Awards, European racing’s equivalent of the Oscars, are revealed just four days after tomorrow’s thrilling climax to the Flat turf season in Britain.
The awards are unveiled in magnificent style on the evening of Wednesday, November 14, in the Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair, London, England.
The eight horse awards, including the prestigious Cartier Horse Of The Year accolade plus the Award Of Merit for the person or persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport, are recognised as the most prestigious within European horseracing. This is the 17th year of the Cartier Racing Awards.
The equine awards, which will honour the best horses of a tremendous Flat season, are decided by a well-established method, involving a combination of points achieved in Pattern races, the views of racing journalists on Cartier’s Racing Panel and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph. The Pattern races count towards 40 per cent of the total for each award, with the Cartier Racing Panel’s deliberations also having a 40 per cent share and the votes of the newspaper readers making up the final 20 per cent.
The horse categories are Cartier Horse Of The Year; Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt, Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly, Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly; Cartier Stayer, Cartier Sprinter and Cartier Older Horse.
Last year’s event before an invited audience of nearly 300, comprising owners, trainers, jockeys, racing personalities and the media, saw Cartier Racing Awards won by the very popular Ouija Board, subject of a book this year, Finsceal Beo, who captured two Classics during 2007 and was beaten a head in a third, the great stayer Yeats, unbeaten Teofilo, top filly Mandesha, sprinter Reverence and George Washington, who gained a Cartier Racing Award for the second year running. Finsceal Beo and Yeats both have the chance to claim a second Cartier Racing Award on November 14.
The 2007 Cartier Racing Panel is made up of chairman Brough Scott (The Sunday Telegraph), Marcus Armytage (The Daily Telegraph), Graham Dench (Racing Post), Chris McGrath (The Independent) and Julian Muscat (Ther Times).
The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit is for the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 20-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.
The list of past winners of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is as follows; Peter Willett, Henry Cecil, David & Patricia Thompson, Lord Oaksey, Prince Khalid Abdullah, John Magnier, His Highness The Aga Khan, Peter Walwyn, the Head Family, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Frankie Dettori, John Dunlop, the Marquess of Hartington, Francois Boutin, Lester Piggott and Henri Chalhoub.
The 2007 Cartier Jury is made up of Michael Bell, Charlie Brooks, Alan Byrne, the Earl of Derby, Mike Dillon, Ed Dunlop, Douglas Erskine-Crum, Rod Fabricius, Philip Freedman, Tom Goff, Lord Grimthorpe, Simon Marsh, Jim McGrath, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Leo Powell, Ruth Quinn, Sam Sheppard, Brough Scott, Sir David Sieff and Howard Wright.
The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to recognise supreme excellence in the racehorse.
A full list of past winners at the Cartier Racing Awards
2006- CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Teofilo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Finsceal Beo
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Mandesha
Cartier Sprinter: Reverence
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Ouija Board
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Willett
2005 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Rumplestiltskin
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Hurricane Run
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Sprinter: Avonbridge
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Azamour
Cartier Horse of the Year: Hurricane Run owned by Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henry Cecil
2004 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Shamardal
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Bago
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ouija Board
Cartier Sprinter: Somnus
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Soviet Song
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: David & Patricia Thompson
2003 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: One Cool Cat
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Attraction
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dalakhani
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Russian Rhythm
Cartier Sprinter: Oasis Dream
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Older Horse: Falbrav
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dalakhani owned by HH The Aga Khan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lord Oaksey
2002 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Hold That Tiger
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Six Perfections
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rock of Gibraltar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kazzia
Cartier Sprinter: Continent
Cartier Older Horse: Grandera
Cartier Stayer: Vinnie Roe
Cartier Horse of the Year: Rock of Gibraltar owned by Sir Alex Ferguson & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah
Cartier Special Award: Tony McCoy
2001 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Queen's Logic
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Johannesburg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Banks Hill
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Galileo
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Sprinter: Mozart
Cartier Older Horse: Fantastic Light
Cartier Horse of the Year: Fantastic Light owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Magnier
2000 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Superstar Leo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Tobougg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Petrushka
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Sinndar
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Nuclear Debate
Older Horse: Kalanisi
Cartier Horse of the Year: Giants Causeway owned by Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Cartier Millennium Award of Merit: HM the Queen
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: HH the Aga Khan
1999 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Torgau
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Fasliyev
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ramruma
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Montjeu
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Stravinsky
Cartier Older Horse: Daylami
Cartier Horse of the Year: Daylami owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Walwyn
1998 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Aljabr
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Bint Allayl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dream Well
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Cape Verdi
Cartier Sprinter: Tamarisk
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Older Horse: Swain
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dream Well owned by the Niarchos Family
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: the Head Family
1997 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Embassy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Xaar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ryafan
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Peintre Celebre
Cartier Stayer: Celeric
Cartier Sprinter: Royal Applause
Cartier Older Horse: Pilsudski
Cartier Horse of the Year: Peintre Celebre owned by Daniel Wildenstein
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Sir Peter O'Sullevan
1996 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Pas De Response
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Bahamian Bounty
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Bosra Sham
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Helissio
Cartier Stayer: Nononito
Cartier Sprinter: Anabaa
Cartier Older Horse: Halling
Cartier Horse of the Year: Helissio owned by Enrique Sarasola
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Frankie Dettori
1995 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Blue Duster
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Alhaarth
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ridgewood Pearl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Lammtarra
Cartier Stayer: Double Trigger
Cartier Sprinter: Hever Golf Rose
Cartier Older Horse: Further Flight
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ridgewood Pearl owned by Mrs Sean Coughlan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Dunlop
1994 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Gay Gallanta
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Celtic Swing
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Balanchine
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: King's Theatre
Cartier Stayer: Moonax
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Barathea
Cartier Horse of the Year: Barathea owned by Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Marquess of Hartington
1993 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lemon Souffle
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: First Trump
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Intrepidity
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Commander In Chief
Cartier Stayer: Vintage Crop
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Opera House
Cartier Horse of the Year: Lochsong owned by Jeff Smith
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Francois Boutin
1992 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lyric Fantasy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Zafonic
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: User Friendly
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rodrigo De Triano
Cartier Stayer: Drum Taps
Cartier Sprinter: Mr Brooks
Cartier Older Horse: Mr Brooks
Cartier Horse of the Year: User Friendly owned by Bill Gredley
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lester Piggott
1991 - CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Culture Vulture
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Arazi
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kooyonga
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Suave Dancer
Cartier Stayer: Turgeon
Cartier Sprinter: Sheikh Albadou
Cartier Older Horse: Terimon
Cartier Horse of the Year: Arazi owned by Allen Paulson & Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henri Chalhoub
ADVANCED "IN GREAT NICK" AHEAD OF LISTED totetentofollow.co.uk WENTWORTH STAKES AT DONCASTER
PHILANTHROPY ON COURSE FOR totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP
Trainer Kevin Ryan is looking forward to a big run from sprinter Advanced in the £40,000 Listed totetentofollow.co.uk Wentworth Stakes (2.35pm) at Doncaster today, Saturday, November 10, the final day of the British Flat turf season.
The four-year-old finished second on his latest start in the Group Three Prix Seine-et-Oise at Maisons-Laffitte, France, on November 2, and Ryan is pleased with the Night Shift colt ahead of his appearance at Doncaster.
The Hambleton handler said yesterday: "Advanced is in great form, and he ran very well in France.
"He has finished second in that race (the Prix Seine-et-Oise) twice now and the soft ground went against him this year. The winner of that race, Tiza, looks very smart, and I’m not convinced he would have beaten him anyway. He still ran a great race though.
"He has come out of the race very well, and I’d be hopeful of a big run at Doncaster on Saturday in the totetentofollow Wentworth Stakes. He will go on the projected good to firm ground and is in great nick."
Advanced has enjoyed a busy second half to this season, culminating with the biggest success of his career in the totesport.com Ayr Gold Cup on September 22, when he prevailed by a neck from Benwilt Breeze.
A total 14 horses are declared to run in the Listed totetentofollow.co.uk Wentworth Stakes, including the last two winners of Goodwood’s Stewards’ Cup, Zidane and Borderlescott. Godolphin’s Group Three Bentinck Stakes winner Greek Renaissance will also line-up, as will the third from that race, Galeota, and Sunrise Safari, who was an impressive winner of the racingpost.co.uk Handicap at Doncaster on October 27.
Ryan also has high hopes for Philanthropy in the £75,000 totesport.com November Handicap (3.10pm), and the believes that the progressive three-year-old is in good fettle following his fourth in a competitive handicap at Chester on September 29.
Ryan commented: "Philanthropy is in great form.
"He doesn’t want any rain, and the faster the ground the better for him.
"He looks marvellous for this time of year and will want every yard of the mile and a half trip."
Philanthropy is rated a 25/1 chance by totesport, and the colt has ran consistently well in handicap company this season, including a pillar-to-post victory in a 12-furlong handicap at York on September 5, when he defeated fellow totesport.com November Handicap hope Sanbuch by two and a half lengths.
LATEST totesport ODDS FOR THE totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP
11/2 Pippa Greene, 7/1 Heaven Knows, 7/1 Malt Or Mash, 10/1 Tropical Strait, 11/1 Sanbuch, 12/1 New Guinea, 12/1 Heron Bay, 14/1 Greek Envoy, 16/1 Bandama, 16/1 Oh Glory Be, 18/1 Rampallion, 20/1 Akarem, 25/1 Dzesmin, 25/1 Inchloch, 25/1 John Terry, 25/1 La Estrella, 25/1 Lundy’s Lane, 25/1 Night Crescendo, 25/1 Philanthropy, 25/1 Realism, 33/1 Turn Of Phrase, 66/1 Bazart, 66/1 Chicken Soup
Each-Way: 1/4 Places at 1, 2, 3, 4
AWARDS AND END OF SEASON PARTY AT DONCASTER!
totesport.com November Handicap day, Saturday, November 10, celebrates the British Flat season of 2007 and presentations to the Champion Trainer, Champion Owner, Champion Jockey and Champion Apprentice will take place. The thrilling battle to be Champion Jockey between Jamie Spencer and Seb Sanders could go right through to the final race.
New awards to add to the end of season party include the newly commissioned owners and trainers trophies provided by the British Horseracing Authority. Paul Roy (Chairman of the BHA) and Nic Coward (Chief Executive of the BHA) are expected on the day to present these trophies to representatives from Godolphin (leading owner) and Aidan O’Brien (leading trainer). Reigning champion jockey Ryan Moore will be present to crown the new champion jockey.
The apprentice jockeys award, which goes to Greg Fairley, is sponsored by the Jockeys Association of Great Britain. New JAGB Chief Executive Josh Apiafi will be in attendance.
Channel 4 will provide highlight clips to each presentation which will be shown on the big screen and other screens around the course. The presentations will be filmed by Channel 4 and shown live if time allows.
Saturday, November 10, will also see jockey Kevin Darley bring down the curtain on his long career. The 47-year-old has enjoyed significant success at Doncaster over the years including winning the 2002 St Leger on Bollin Eric as well as landing the Racing Post Trophy three times on Celtic Swing (1994), High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002).
After racing it’s the End of Season Party! Kings Of Queen, an exciting and powerful four-piece band who accurately recreate the phenomenon that was Queen, will perform in the new Lazarus Exhibition Hall of the Urban-i Grandstand.
totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP HISTORY
The totesport.com November Handicap originated as the Manchester November Handicap and was first run at Manchester Racecourse in 1876.
Upon the closure of the Castle Irwell course in 1963, the race was transferred to its now established home at Town Moor Doncaster in 1964. The first Doncaster running of the historic race, staged as the Ovaltine Manchester Handicap over a mile and a half, went to the Bernard Van Cutsem-trained Osier, who got up close home under Doug Smith to defeat Space King by half a length for a 20/1 success.
The race initially formed part of the Observer Gold Cup (now the Racing Post Trophy) card and took place in October before moving to a November slot in 1976.
Totesport took over sponsorship in 1994 when the Luca Cumani-trained Saxon Maid captured the Tote Credit November Handicap for Sheikh Mohammed, who has seen his maroon and white colours carried to victory three times (Turgenev in 1992 and Sabadilla in 1997 also prevailed), making him the most successful owner in the history of the contest since it was run at Doncaster.
Willie Carson triumphed more times in the November Handicap than any other jockey. His three victories came aboard King Top (1972), Azzaam (1990) and Hieroglyphic (1991).
Carson is one of five riders to have ridden back-to-back winners of the race. The others are Sandy Barclay (1966 Polish Warrior and 1967 Bugle Boy), George Duffield (1981 Lafontaine and 1982 Double Shuffle), Mark Birch (1987 Swingit Gunner and 1988 Young Benz) and Jason Weaver (1993 Quick Ransom and 1994 Saxon Maid).
The other multiple winning riders since 1964 are Joe Mercer (Misty Light 1971 and Bold Rex 1985) and Darryll Holland (Turgenev 1992 and Yavanna’s Pace 1998), who is the only current jockey to have captured the November Handicap more than once. Bold Rex was also the final victory of Joe Mercer’s career prior to his retirement at the end of the 1985 season.
Sandy Barclay’s two successes came for Epsom Derby-winning trainer Arthur Budgett who also had the distinction of winning the November Handicap as an owner with Morse Code in 1979.
Morse Code was trained by John Dunlop who has secured three successes in the race, thanks also to Bold Rex in 1985 and Azzaam in 1990, making him the equal winning-most trainer alongside John Gosden.
Gosden’s three November Handicap triumphs came with Hieroglyphic (1991) Turgenev (1992) and Sabadilla (1997). The trainer, whose father Towser Gosden saddled Concealdem to victory in 1965, had the first two home in 1992 as 11/4 favourite Daru chased home his less- fancied stablemate.
In 1989 the race moved to Thirsk following problems with drainage on the course at Doncaster and the Ben Hanbury-trained Firelight Fiesta took the spoils. The race was staged at Windsor in 2006 while Town Moor underwent its £34-million redevelopment and Group Captain, trained by Roger Charlton, emerged victorious under Richard Hughes.
totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP - FACTS AND FIGURES
This year marks the 44th running of the November Handicap at Doncaster and the 14th since the tote took over sponsorship of the race in 1994. Having begun life in 1876 as the Manchester November Handicap, the race switched to Doncaster in 1964 following the closure of Manchester and was run as the Manchester Handicap until 1976.
***
When Osier lined up for the 1964 race, the field of 28 was competing for a pot worth £4,471 10 shillings. This year, the totesport.com November Handicap carries total prize money of £75,000.
***
Favourites have a poor record in the race with only six market leaders rewarding punters in 43 renewals. The successful favourites in that time were Gritti Palace (1974), Morse Code (1979), Firelight Fiesta (1989), Hieroglyphic (1991), Quick Ransom (1993) and Snow Princess (1995).
***
With favourites faring so badly, it is perhaps not surprising that 27 of the 43 runnings of the Doncaster November Handicap have gone to horses with a starting price of 10/1 or bigger (including both horses, Double Shuffle & Turkoman who dead-heated in 1982). The longest-priced winner of the race was the Reg Hollinshead-trained 50/1 shot Royal Cavalier, who saw off 7/1 joint-favourite Mesmeric by a head in 2001.
***
The biggest field lined up in 1968 when Zardia saw off 28 rivals, while the smallest turn-out came in 1975 when only a dozen went to post. The safety limit is now 23.
***
Yavanna’s Pace (1998), Swingit Gunner (1987) and Concealdem (1965) are the three oldest victors. All were six-year-olds.
***
Three-year-olds have a good record in the race, having won 23 of 43 runnings. Four-year-olds have taken 14 renewals of the November Handicap at Doncaster. There have been four successes by five-year-olds.
***
The Mark Johnston-trained Yavanna’s Pace holds the weight-carrying record in the Doncaster November Handicap. The six-year-old shouldered 9st 10lb to victory, in contrast to the featherweight 7st carried to success by Gritti Palace in 1974 under his 7lb claimer Richard Fox.
***
Willie Carson is the winning-most jockey in the history of the race with three successes aboard King Top (1972), Azzaam (1990) and Hieroglyphic (1991), while John Gosden and John Dunlop share the distinction of being the most successful trainers with three wins each.
***
Sheikh Mohammed has more wins than any other owner, having seen his famous maroon and white silks carried to victory on three occasions by Turgenev (1992), Saxon Maid (1994) and Sabadilla (1997).
***
Since 1964, the race has twice been staged away from Town Moor. Thirsk hosted the 1989 renewal won by Firelight Fiesta after drainage problems caused the abandonment of racing at that year’s St Leger meeting. Doncaster’s stunning £34-million redevelopment meant that Windsor was the venue in 2006 when Group Captain took the spoils.
***
Arthur Budgett, who famously owned and trained the Derby-winning brothers Blakeney and Morston, is the only person to have succeeded in the Doncaster November Handicap as both a trainer and an owner. He saddled Polish Warrior (1966) and Bugle Boy (1967) to success and saw the John Dunlop-trained Morse Code carry his colours to victory in 1979.
totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP ROLL OF HONOUR 1964 -2006
YEAR WINNER AGE/WT OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP RAN
*2006 GROUP CAPTAIN 4-9-05 Peter Webb Roger Charlton Richard Hughes 10/1 20
2005 COME ON JONNY 3-8-00 Adrian Frost Ralph Beckett Nelson de Souza(3) 14/1 21
2004 CARTE DIAMOND 3-9-06 Ashley Carr Brian Ellison Kieren Fallon 12/1 24
2003 TURBO 4-9-02 Peter Richardson Toby Balding Tony Clark 25/1 24
2002 RED WINE 3-8-01 Paul Dixon Jamie Osborne Martin Dwyer 16/1 23
2001 ROYAL CAVALIER 4-7-10 The Three Rs Reg Hollinshead Paul Quinn(3) 50/1 24
2000 BATSWING 5-8-08 Ashley Carr Brian Ellison Robert Winston 14/1 20
1999 FLOSSY 3-7-07 Guy Reed Chris Thornton Tony Beech(5) 5/1 16
1998 YAVANNA’S PACE 6-9-10 Joan Keaney Mark Johnston Darryll Holland 8/1 23
1997 SABADILLA 3-7-08 Sheikh Mohammed John Gosden Royston Ffrench(3) 10/1 24
1996 CLIFTON FOX 4-8-10 P&S Partnership Jeremy Glover Nigel Day 9/1 22
1995 SNOW PRINCESS 3-8-02 Lord Weinstock & The Hon Simon Weinstock Lord Huntingdon Richard Hills 5/1F 18
1994 SAXON MAID 3-8-09 Sheikh Mohammed Luca Cumani Jason Weaver 16/1 24
1993 QUICK RANSOM 5-8-10 Stuart Morrison Mark Johnston Jason Weaver 6/1F 25
1992 TURGENEV 3-9-00 Sheikh Mohammed John Gosden Darryll Holland 10/1 25
1991 HIEROGLYPHIC 3-8-13 Robert Sangster John Gosden Willie Carson 11/4F 22
1990 AZZAAM 3-9-08 Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop Willie Carson 7/1 24
**1989 FIRELIGHT FIESTA 4-9-08 Mrs John Lamb Ben Hanbury Bruce Raymond 9/2F 19
1988 YOUNG BENZ 4-8-04 T Bennett Mick Easterby Mark Birch 12/1 22
1987 SWINGIT GUNNER 6-8-11 Mrs G Barnes Colin Tinkler Mark Birch 9/1 25
1986 BEIJING 3-8-04 Binfield Manor Farms Paul Cole Richard Quinn 16/1 25
1985 BOLD REX 3-8-07 Lord Granard John Dunlop Joe Mercer 20/1 24
1984 ABU KADRA 3-8-12 Muttar Salem Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 25/1 23
1983 ASIR 3-8-07 Yazid & Ahmed Ltd Guy Harwood Greville Starkey 10/1 25
1982 DH DOUBLE SHUFFLE 3-9-00 David Sieff Gavin Pritchard-Gordon George Duffield 12/1 17
DH TURKOMAN 3-8-07 M Pote Duncan Sasse Denis McKay 20/1
1980 PATH OF PEACE 4-8-05 L Gold Chris Thornton Jimmy Bleasdale 14/1 22
1979 MORSE CODE 4-8-03 Arthur Budgett John Dunlop Paul Cook 11/2F 14
1978 EASTERN SPRING 4-7-10 F Vittadini Luca Cumani Michael Wigham 17/2 21
1977 SAILCLOTH 3-7-07 Lord Porchester William Hastings-Bass Taffy Thomas 13/2 20
1976 GALE BRIDGE 3-8-12 J Byrne Ryan Price Brian Taylor 10/1 14
1975 MR BIGMORE 3-9-01 E Lambton Peter Robinson Greville Starkey 100/30 12
1974 GRITTI PALACE 5-7-00 Mrs J Fisher Peter Robinson Richard Fox (7) 7/2F 21
1973 ONLY FOR JO 3-7-04 D Toomey Ron Smyth Ian Jenkinson (7) 13/1 22
1972 KING TOP 3-7-11 Lady Halifax John Oxley Willie Carson 6/1 16
1971 MISTY LIGHT 3-8-05 Robin Scully Sam Armstrong Joe Mercer 25/1 20
1970 SARACENO 5-9-02 Gerry Oldham Harry Wragg Graham Sexton 15/2 21
1969 TINTAGEL II 4-9-00 Mrs R Sturdy Richmond Sturdy Lester Piggott 15/1 21
1968 ZARDIA 4-7-08 A Vasey S Gillatt Roy Still (5) 25/1 29
1967 BUGLE BOY 4-7-08 E Rigden Arthur Budgett Sandy Barclay 22/1 25
1966 POLISH WARRIOR 3-7-03 Col P Wright Arthur Budgett Sandy Barclay 100/6 26
1965 CONCEALDEM 6-8-10 G Taylor Towser Gosden Ron Hutchinson 100/8 18
1964 OSIER 4-7-10 D Montagu Bernard Van Cutsem Doug Smith 20/1 28
*run at Windsor
**run at Thirsk
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER NOVICES’ CHASE IS ON LESLINGTAYLOR’S AGENDA
*ROYAL ASCOT WINNER PEVENSEY MAY TAKE IN THE GREATWOOD HURDLE*
Meeting - The Open, Dates - Friday, November 16, Saturday, November 17 & Sunday, November 18 Admission Prices - Club/Tattersalls from £20 (£18 in advance), Best Mate from £8 Gates Open - 10am all daysFirst race - 12.45pm Friday, 12.55pm Saturday, 1.10pm Sunday
Impressive Aintree winner Leslingtaylor could bid to maintain a perfect start to his chasing career in the £45,000 Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (1.10pm) over two miles at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 18, day three of The Open.
The John Quinn-trained five-year-old, winner of the Grade Three Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May, made an eye-catching chase debut when drawing seven lengths clear for an eased down victory over Marodima in the Listed intercasino.co.uk Molyneux Novices’ Chase over the same distance of two miles at Aintree on October 27.
Malton-based Quinn revealed this morning: "We will look to make an entry for Leslingtaylor in the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase, so at this stage he is a possible runner.
"If it is too soft he wouldn’t run as he doesn’t want it heavy, but that’s rather unlikely. We will have a look nearer the time but it would be a good race to win and it is on the agenda.
"He jumped well at Aintree and did it nicely. He has come out of that race well and is in good nick."
Leslingtaylor could lock horns with the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Tramantano, who himself made a winning chase debut in the Tiger Developments Novices’ Chase over the course and distance on October 19.
Both geldings defeated the Paul Nicholls-trained Marodima, each conceding 9lb to that rival. With Tramantano’s margin of victory a narrower length and a quarter, a fascinating showdown is in prospect.
Last year’s renewal of the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase went to the Philip Hobbs-trained Fair Along, who went on to finish runner-up to My Way De Solzen in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival in March, the same position filled by Seebald behind Moscow Flyer after he took the 2001 running.
The Irish raider Accordion Etoile, trained by Paul Nolan, took the 2005 renewal of the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase and ended that campaign with victory in the Grade One Swordlestown Cup at Punchestown.
Sunday’s feature contest on a fantastic six-race card is the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle (2.55pm) over an extended two miles, which is race eight in the Order Of Merit, and Quinn has two classy hurdlers entered.
Pevensey, a winner of two from four starts over hurdles and successful in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap on the Flat at Royal Ascot in June, is more likely to take his chance in the Greatwood Hurdle than stablemate King’s Quay.
Quinn continued: "King’s Quay’s target is the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton but Pevensey might run in the Greatwood Hurdle providing we get some rain. He had his day in the summer and that was grand, so hopefully now he can win something nice over hurdles. He’s in good form and I’m happy with him."
The Open at Cheltenham commences on Countryside Day, Friday, November 16, with an entertaining day of sport, while the meeting’s showcase event is the £120,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles on Saturday, November 17.
GOING
After five millimetres of rain yesterday, the going remains Good (watered) on the chase and hurdle courses and Good to Firm on the Cross Country course (watering).
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
