Big race form guide
JNWine Champion Chase – Down Royal (2.20)
This is a particularly competitive renewal of this race. Paul Nicholls has won the race 3 times in the last 4 years, with Taranis and twice with Kauto Star (pictured below).
This year he relies on The Nightingale who was a winner at this meeting last season and goes well fresh and is suited by soft ground. Boston’s Angel is a real tough sort and has won 4 of his last 5 starts. After winning 2 Grade 1s at Leopardstown last season he landed the RSA Chase. He seems to act on any ground. He is a course winner. Quito de la Roque has won his last 4 including wins at both the Aintree and Punchestown festivals.
Sizing Europe has won the Arkle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase in the last two years. He is yet to win over 3 miles although he was runner up to Kauto Star in this race last season and he comes here on the back of a fortunate win at Gowran Park. Midnight Chase won 3 times at Cheltenham last season and finished 5th behind Long Run in the Gold Cup.
This is a tough one to call. I fancy the Irish trio and with slight doubts over Sizing Europe’s stamina it may pay to side with Boston’s Angel or Quito de la Roque. If pushed for a selection the latter would get my narrow vote.
Doncaster
1.45 Jellicle does not seem entirely straightforward and has already had 3 chances but he does have ability and sets the form standard here.
2.00 Axiom is worth considering here. He is a course winner, well suited by the trip and handles cut in the ground. He is 1 lb higher that his highest winning rating but is ridden by a 7 lbs claimer. He was 4th in the Lincoln at the start of the season and has put in some decent runs since. Prime Exhibit hasn’t won on turf for over 3 years but he has won on the all weather over this trip this season. He was 4th at York in August with Axiom back in 10th and he was a good second at Haydock at the start of September. These would be my 2 against the field.
3.10 Pekan Star looked a horse to follow after winning a Nottingham maiden last October and duly won on his seasonal reappearance in a York handicap off a rating of 85. He then disappointed when a gambled on favourite in the Magnet Cup at York and was again a beaten favourite when 6th of 10 at Newmarket but that race has since thrown up a number of winners. Harlestone Times finished runner up in the Graet Metropolitan at Epsom but was disqualified. He then won next time out at Goodwood but has failed to win since off a higher mark. He gets this trip well and has won on both soft and fast ground. Oceanway has won 3 times this season and is a typically tough sort from this stable. She is upped in trip here and could go well. The Betchworth Kid has finished 2nd in this race twice and will benefit from Lucy Barry’s 5lb claim. He likes a bit of cut in the ground and is another to consider.
This quartet would be my short list with Pekan Star just getting the edge over the others.
3.40 Secret Witness is having his 17th outing of the season and has won just the once, at Doncaster over 5 furlongs. He was only beaten a neck here last month and you always a get the impression that he will win one of these again. His strike rate is not the best though in truth. Ayr Gold Cup winner Our Jonathon might be a safer bet especially with Pat Smullen booked to ride.
4.10 Junket is slightly raced, goes well for an apprentice and acts with some give in the ground.
From the archives
For many it’s still the ‘Manchester’ November Handicap as the race used to be run there until the demise of the North West venue back in 1963.
Many famous jockeys have won the race. Steve Donoghue rode back to back winners in 1927/28 thanks to Old Orkney (8/1) and Saracen (6/1).
The 1930 season saw a nail biting finish to the jockey’s championship with Richard Fox just edging past Donoghue by 129 to 128 despite the fact that his rival won the November Handicap on the last day of the season on the 25/1 outsider Glorious Devon.
Harry Wragg celebrated his last day as a jockey by being first past the post in the November Handicap on 20/1 shot Las Vegas.
In 1951 the November handicap was the first outside broadcast from the BBC television station at Holm Moss. The 1957 renewal was the richest ever run at that time, sponsored by William Hill it was worth £6,352. The winner was Chief Barker trained by Ryan Price and ridden by 18 year old apprentice Dennis Walker who weighed 4 stone 9.
Operatic Society dropped Ken Gethin on the way to post and galloped a full circuit before beating 48 rivals in the fog in 1959. The winner was returned at 18/1 and napped by Peter O’Sullevan in the Daily Express.
The last ever November handicap to be run at Manchester was in 1963 when Best Song ridden by Jimmy Lindley beat the previous season’s winner Damredub by a neck.
Turf Trivia
In 1962 Creggmore Boy (aged 22) became the oldest racehorse to compete in a race. It was in a seller at Cartmel.
Kelso
12.25 Dark Glacier had good form in bumpers last winning 3 times (although losing one of these on a disqualification).
2.40 Tchico Polos won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last season when trained by Paul Nicholls and is now with Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell. The ground should suit him on his first run for his new trainer and he is not without a chance. SA Suffit is a consistent sort but has had a number of injury problems. He is a course winner but might want more give in the ground.
3.15 Bishop’s Heir is another that has had injury problems. He may need testing conditions to be seen in his best light.
Sandown
12.45 Trafalgar Road’s last win came 2 years to the day when winning at Haydock off a mark 1 lb higher. His future probably lies over fences but he could be competitive here if fit first time out. The promised rain would help his cause.
1.20 Pacha du Polda is a new recruit to the Paul Nicholls yard and has winning form over hurdles in France.
3.00 Paintball ended last season with a win at Cheltenham but could only finish 5th on his reappearance at Aintree last month. He may well come on for the run. Panxtoa was a winner at Warwick last season and was runner up on a couple of occasions. He will probably jump a fence before long.
3.30 Hold on Julio has some smart form in point to points and won a hunter chase at Kelso in April. He is another that would not mind some rain.
Wincanton
12.35 Balding Banker and Molotof make most appeal. The former was a Newbury bumper winner last term and looks a nice prospect for novice hurdles. Molotof was 2nd to Zarkandar at Kempton and looks a winner waiting to happen.
1.45 Veiled was a winner over hurdles at Cheltenham in April and has since won twice on the flat at Newmarket and at Ascot where he won the Ascot Stakes at the Royal Meeting. Cinderella Rose won two of her 3 starts last season, at Towcester and Ascot. She likes genuine good ground and may still be on a fair mark.
2.15 Silviniaco Conti was the pick of these on hurdles form. He was 3rd to Cue Card at Chepstow on his chase debut and the runner up has won again since. The stable have a good record in the race. Jetnova won twice at Plumpton and once at Wincanton over hurdles last season but has always looked an embryo chaser. He will stay this trip or further. Kilcrea Kim is a 4 times winner over hurdles who also ran well at the Cheltenham Festival. As a former point to point winner he should take well to fences. Handy Andy is another former points winner. Well thought of by Colin Tizzzard he won a competitive race over hurdles at Newbury.
2.45 This looks a two horse race with the younger Grandouet perhaps having the edge over Celestial Hero.
3.20 Hello Bud has been round the block a time or two and is 13 now but he doesn’t have a bad CV. A former winner of the Scottish Nation, the Becher Chase and Fontwell’s Southern National he is a bold jumper and goes well fresh. He may hold something of a record as he once won a hat trick of races at 3 different tracks all beginning with the letter “H.” (I know, I should get out more!) Hello Bud is also a course winner having won the Somerset National at Wincanton and at a working man’s price has an each way chance.
3.55 Basil Fawlty is the subject of good reports as is Sleeping City and it would be no surprise if one of this pair were to win.
Churchill Downs
Selections; 8.45 Sarafina; 10.07 Goldikova: 11.00 So You Think.
Down Royal
1.50 Montan won this last year and is a big threat again. At a bigger price the dual purpose horse Lucky Spring could, give us a run for our money. He generally prefers some give in the ground but did win at Sligo on good to firm in May.
2.20 See Big race form guide
2.50 Only a small field but not easy to find a winner. Blazing Tempo is the likely favourite but with the stable not in form it could pay to look elsewhere. Gordon Elliott saddles Roi du Mee who won a Grade 2 at Naas last season. He comes here on the back of a win at Punchestown last month. Likes soft ground and has very chance. Saludos is a good looking son of Bob Back. He won a Grade 2 at Navan last season before finishing 3rd to Captain Chris at the Punchestown festival. Kauto Stone is a half brother to Kauto Star and is a Grade 1 winner in France. Acts with plenty of give in the ground.
Nap of the day
Dark Glacier
Dark horse
Hold on Julio
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
ahorse 