Tuesday, November 6, 2007

MALT OR MASH AND OH GLORY BE FOR totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP

Hannon revealed today: “Malt Or Mash will run providing the ground is not too firm. He won nicely last time out, and he’s an improving three-year-old.

“It’s about the right time of year to take on the older horses, with several of them having had a hard year.

“The track will suit him down to the ground, but I don’t want to bring him off on firm ground, because he’s a horse with a future.”

Malt or Mash, 8/1 co-favourite with totesport, has enjoyed a progressive campaign, winning three times, including victory on his last start in a competitive 12-furlong handicap at Newmarket on October 6, when defeating Sanbuch by half a length.

The three-year old, allotted 8st 7lb in Saturday’s prestigious contest, also finished fourth in the BCG Handicap at Glorious Goodwood on August 1, four and a half lengths behind subsequent Ladbrokes St Leger fourth Regal Flush.

Four-year-old filly Oh Glory Be, rated as a 16/1 contender by totesport, could have her last run for Hannon on Saturday, although her participation is also dependent on the state of the going.

Hannon continued: “Oh Glory Be is entered in the totesport.com November Handicap and the Listed totesport 0800 221 221 Gillies Fillies Stakes (2.05pm) at Doncaster on Saturday, but she won’t run in either if the ground is anything like firm, because she hates it.

“I’d prefer to run in the totesport.com November Handicap, and then she’s off to the sales in December. She’s got a good pedigree and will make a lot of money.”

Oh Glory Be, who has 8st 6lb in the totesport.com November Handicap, also won over a mile and a half at Newmarket on her latest appearance, beating Vale De Lobo by half a length in a fillies’ handicap on November 2, when wearing a visor for the first time.

Hannon will definitely be represented at Doncaster on Saturday by Galeota, who will take his chance in the Listed totetentofollow.co.uk Wentworth Stakes (2.35pm) over six furlongs. The five-year-old finished third in the Group Three Bentinck Stakes at Newmarket on October 20.

Minkowski, currently a 10/1 chance with the sponsors for the totesport.com November Handicap, is not a certain runner at this stage and French-based trainer John Hammond is keeping an eye on the weather.

The Chantilly handler said today: “The ground would be a big factor as to whether Minkowski runs - you wouldn’t imagine firm ground at this time of year.

“He ran well at York (fourth in the totesport.com Ebor), and the trip of one and a half miles wouldn’t be a problem.”

Minkowski, given 8st 9lb for Saturday’s contest, finished fourth behind Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon on his penultimate outing in the totesport.com Ebor at York before disappointing when favourite on his latest start over a mile and a half at Chantilly in October.

Hammond’s most recent runner at Doncaster was the classy mare Sweet Stream, who won the Group Two Park Hill Stakes at the Yorkshire track in September, 2005.

The George Margarson-trained Young Mick heads the weights for the totesport.com November Handicap with 9st 10lb, while the Godolphin pair New Guinea (9st 7lb) and Lake Toya (9st 2lb) also feature near the top of the handicap.

Recent Newbury scorer Heaven Knows has been allotted 8st 10lb while the progressive pair of Pippa Greene and Black Rock are both currently on 8st 7lb.

LATEST totesport ODDS FOR THE totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP
8/1 Black Rock, 8/1 Heaven Knows, 8/1 Pippa Greene, 8/1 Malt Or Mash , 10/1 Minkowski, 11/1 Cutting Crew, 11/1 Sanbuch, 12/1 Greek Envoy, 12/1 Harry Tricker, 12/1 New Guinea, 12/1 St Savarin, 12/1 Tropical Strait, 16/1 Akarem, 16/1 Bandama, 16/1 Heron Bay, 16/1 Oh Glory Be, 16/1 Rampallion, 20/1 Lake Toya, 20/1 Lundys Lane, 20/1 Night Crescendo, 20/1 Philanthropy, 20/1 Young Mick, 25/1 Chocolate Caramel, 25/1 Dzesmin, 25/1 Esthlos, 25/1 Gabier, 25/1 Inchloch, 25/1 John Terry, 25/1 La Estrella, 25/1 Prairie Tiger, 25/1 Realism, 33/1 Dollar Chick, 33/1 Kings Quay, 33/1 Music Review, 33/1 Turn Of Phrase, 33/1 Wingman, 40/1 Mighty Moon, 50/1 Chicken Soup, 50/1 Happy As Larry, 66/1 Bazart, 66/1 Spume

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Yavanna’s Pace (1998), Swingit Gunner (1987) and Concealdem (1965) are the three oldest victors. All were six-year-olds.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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 JOHNNY 3-8-00 A 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 & Lord Huntingdon Richard Hills 5/1F 18
The Hon Simon Weinstock
1994 SAXON MAID 3-8-09 Sheikh Mohammed Luca Cumani Jason Weaver 16/1 24
1993 QUICK RANSOM 5-8-10 J 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 DOUBLE SHUFFLE 3-9-00 David Sieff Gavin Pritchard-Gordon George Duffield 12/1 17
TURKOMAN 3-8-07 M Pote Duncan Sasse Denis McKay 20/1
1981 LAFONTAINE 4-8-07 Mrs J Bigg Clive Brittain George Duffield 16/1 20
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totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP DAYDoncaster, Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time Race Distance Prize Money
12.25pm Tony Hallatt Memorial Apprentice Handicap 7f £10,000
1.00pm First Transforming Travel In Doncaster EBF Maiden Stakes 6f £8,000
1.30pm Bet In-Play At totesport.com Nursery Handicap 6f £10,000
2.05pm totesport 0800 221 221 EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 1m 2f 60yds £30,000
2.35pm totetentofollow.co.uk Wentworth Stakes (Listed) 6f £40,000
3.10pm totesport.com November Handicap 1m 4f £75,000
3.45pm totesportgames.com Handicap 2m 110yds £25,000

TOTAL £198,000

KANAD LOOKS TO FOLLOW-UP IN THE GREATWOOD HURDLE

Mann revealed this morning: “Kanad has come out of Saturday’s race well and now he goes to the Greatwood Hurdle, depending on what weight he gets.

“He did it well at Ascot - it was a plan that we made a long time ago so it is nice when things come off. They normally don’t work out quite so well.”

Mann believes there is more to come from the progressive Kanad, who has won four of nine starts over hurdles and scored at Ascot under 7lb claimer Kevin Tobin.

The Upper Lambourn handler said: “He is an improving horse and I would hope there is more to come. He is only a five-year-old so he is quite a young horse and he is going the right way.

“Kanad is a rarity in that he is a horse that goes on near enough any ground. He is very versatile like that, although he would not want it as quick as it was at Ascot again.

“He is Noel’s (Fehily) ride so it depends what weight he has as to whether Noel or Kevin rides him. Noel rides him unless he gets 10st again. Kevin did a good job on Saturday but at the same time, he is not my first jockey and Noel is. It is nice to know we have someone who can ride him if Noel can’t do the weight.”

In winning the “Bet Live”@williamhill.com Handicap Hurdle, Kanad defeated fellow Greatwood Hurdle entries Platin Grounds, Altilhar, Amour Multiple, Magic Sky, Special Envoy, Orpen Wide, Ouninpohja, Liberate and Cloone River.

Last year’s Greatwood Hurdle was won by the Philip Hobbs-trained Detroit City, who won the prestigious contest after capturing the Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket and the Tony Martin-trained Irish raider Leg Spinner could bid to emulate that feat.

The 2007 Greatwood Hurdle, which attracted a bumper 58 entries, could also be contested by the Paul Nicholls-trained duo of 2006 Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle victor Desert Quest and Twist Magic, a Grade One winner over fences at Aintree last season who was still in contention when falling two out in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival. Grade One John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle runner-up Gaspara from the David Pipe yard and the classy Howard Johnson-trained Degas Art are two other exciting contenders.

The Open at Cheltenham commences on Friday, November 16 and the highlight of the fantastic three-day meeting is the £120,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles on Saturday, November 17, for which the Paul Nicholls-trained Granit Jack is the current 4/1 market leader with sponsor Paddy Power.

Friday, November 16, is Countryside Day, with a traditional country fair atmosphere plus a dressage display, hound parades and over 80 trade stands offering something for everyone.

The racing on Friday features the £35,000 Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking Novices’ Hurdle, run over an extended two miles, as well as the £35,000 Cross Country Steeple Chase, run over three miles, seven furlongs on the unique cross country course and won last year for the third time by remarkable veteran Spot Thedifference.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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