November Handicap

The November Handicap is a mile-and-a-half handicap at Doncaster, the last big handicap of the flat turf season in Britain.

The November Handicap takes place on Saturday 11th November 2023.

It is always extremely competitive and often held on soft or heavy ground. No horse has ever won it twice.

Notable past winners include Quick Ransom (1993), Yavana’s Pace (1998) and Litigant (2015).

Find out more about the November Handicap:

November Handicap

Race Overview – Doncaster November Handicap

The November Handicap is a flat handicap horse competition in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and above.

It is held at Doncaster every year in early November and is competed over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 197 yards.

Check out our guides to all the other UK Premier Handicap horse races.

November Handicap Odds

Here are the latest odds for the November Handicap in November 2023:

3.13 Doncaster (Race 7) - BOG
  • Date: Saturday 5th of November 2022
  • Time: 15:13
  • Details: 15 Runners Handicap Flat Flat 1m 3f 197y
13 Sir Rumi
NR
2 Israr
3/1
17 Nathanael Greene
6/1
19 First Officer
15/2
20 Teed Up
10/1
12 Mr Alan
12/1
5 Farhan
14/1
6 Cemhaan
20/1
16 Faylaq
25/1
15 Emiyn
33/1
18 Furzig
40/1
22 Lunar Jet
50/1
10 Mr Curiosity
66/1
9 Wilkie
80/1
21 Ring Of Beara
100/1

November Handicap Tips

Here are some tips for November Handicap in November 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

A couple of the horses participating in the November Handicap will be found in more races throughout the year. Be sure to keep an eye on the horses to watch how they perform or place your bets on ante-post betting.

November Handicap Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer SP Time
1980Path of Peace48-05Jimmy BleasdaleChris Thornton1014 14/1
1981Lafontaine48-07George DuffieldClive Brittain1016 16/1
1982(dh)Double ShuffleTurkoman339-008-07George DuffieldDennis McKayG. Pritchard-Gordon Duncan Sasse1012 12/11020 20/1
1983Asir38-07Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood1010 10/1
1984Abu Kadra38-12Walter SwinburnMichael Stoute1025 25/1
1985Bold Rex38-07Joe MercerJohn Dunlop1020 20/1
1986Beijing38-04Richard QuinnPaul Cole1016 16/12:38.48
1987Swingit Gunner68-11Mark BirchColin Tinkler1009 9/12:40.50
1988Young Benz48-04Mark BirchPeter Easterby1012 12/12:35.30
1989Firelight Fiesta [a]49-08Bruce RaymondBen Hanbury1004.5 9/2 F2:37.50
1990Azzaam39-08Willie CarsonJohn Dunlop1007 7/12:38.07
1991Hieroglyphic38-13Willie CarsonJohn Gosden1002.75 11/4 F2:37.76
1992Turgenev39-00Darryll HollandJohn Gosden1010 10/12:35.99
1993Quick Ransom58-10Jason WeaverMark Johnston1006 6/1 F2:34.53
1994Saxon Maid38-09Jason WeaverLuca Cumani1016 16/12:43.82
1995Snow Princess38-02Richard HillsLord Huntingdon1005 5/1 F2:31.90
1996Clifton Fox48-10Nigel DayJeremy Glover1009 9/12:40.19
1997Sabadilla37-08Royston FfrenchJohn Gosden1010 10/12:41.68
1998Yavana's Pace69-10Darryll HollandMark Johnston1008 8/12:36.73
1999Flossy37-07Tony BeechChris Thornton1005 5/12:44.65
2000Batswing58-08Robert WinstonBrian Ellison1014 14/12:44.24
2001Royal Cavalier47-10Paul QuinnReg Hollinshead1050 50/12:41.26
2002Red Wine38-01Martin DwyerJamie Osborne1016 16/12:46.59
2003Turbo49-02Tony ClarkToby Balding1025 25/12:35.72
2004Carte Diamond39-06Kieren FallonBrian Ellison1012 12/12:43.16
2005Come On Jonny38-00Nelson de SouzaRalph Beckett1014 14/12:43.65
2006Group Captain [b]49-05Richard HughesRoger Charlton1010 10/12:29.16
2007Malt or Mash38-10Ryan MooreRichard Hannon Sr.1005 5/12:29.23
2008Tropical Strait58-13Martin DwyerDavid Arbuthnot1020 20/12:42.19
2009Charm School48-12Jimmy FortuneJohn Gosden1008.5 17/22:35.96
2010Times Up48-13Dane O'NeillJohn Dunlop1014 14/12:32.62
2011Zuider Zee48-13Robert HavlinJohn Gosden1008 8/12:36.49
2012Art Scholar58-07Franny NortonMichael Appleby1020 20/12:35.04
2013Conduct69-02Seb SandersWilliam Haggas1008 8/12:44.95
2014Open Eagle58-12Daniel TudhopeDavid O'Meara1007.5 15/2 F2:48.22
2015Litigant79-10George BakerJoseph Tuite1010 10/12:45.07
2016Prize Money38-10George WoodSaeed bin Suroor1004 4/12:31.42
2017Saunter48-13Jim CrowleyIan Williams1006 6/12:39.54
2018Royal Line49-08Robert HavlinJohn Gosden1009 9/12:40.26
2020On To Victory69-00James DoyleAlan King1010 10/12:36.52
2021Farhan38-03Hollie DoyleJohn Bulter1004.5 9/2F2:39.67
2022Metier68-10Saffie OsborneHarry Fry1006.5 13/22:42.20

November Handicap Previous Result

Famous November Handicap Winners

The November Handicap dates back to 1876 when it was held as the Manchester Handicap at the New Barns racecourse. It was eventually transferred to Doncaster in 1964, adopting its current name in 1976. It soon became established as the last big betting handicap race of the turf season.

There was a dead heat in the 1982 race between Double Shuffle and Turkoman.

Trainer John Gosden enjoyed a successful spell in this event in the 1990s, starting with the well-backed favourite Hieroglyphic in 1991. He won again the following season with Turgenev and again in 1997 with Sabadilla, both returned 10-1. Gosden has since established himself as the leading trainer in the history of this race with six winners in total.

Quick Ransom (1993) was a popular winner for Mark Johnston who would also win with Yavana’s Pace (1998), the latter defying 9st 10lbs.

More recent well-supported winners include Open Eagle (2014), Prize Money (2016) and Farhan (2021).

Litigant was another notable winner in 2015. He had been a shock 33-1 winner of the Ebor Handicap at York the same season.

Key November Handicap Trials

It is impossible to single out any particular trials for the November Handicap with recent winners coming from a wide variety of races.

The change in the going at this time of year is a major factor and it is often soft-ground horses who do best.

November Handicap Betting Trends

There have only been two winning favourites in this race since 1995; Open Eagle (2014) and Farhan (2021). That being said, the last nine winners have all returned at odds of 10-1 or shorter.

Shock results include Royal Cavalier (2001) at 50-1 and Turbo (2003) at 25-1.

The age of the winners has varied between three and seven.

Three three-year-olds have won since 2007; Malt or Mash (2007), Prize Money (2016) and Farhan (2021).

The oldest winner during the same period was the seven-year-old Litigant in 2015.

The most successful weight range has been 8st 10lbs to 8st 13lbs. This weight range accounted for five consecutive winners between 2007 and 2011. Yavana’s Pace (1998) and Litigant (2015) both carried 9st 10lbs to victory, the highest winning weight in the November Handicap in modern times.

November Handicap – Top Trainers and Jockeys

John Gosden is the leading trainer in history in this race with six winners; Hieroglyphic (1991), Turgenev (1992), Sabadilla (1997), Charm School (2009), Zuider Zee (2011) and Royal Line (2018).

There has been a growing influence from National Hunt trainers targeting this race with Alan King (On To Victory 2020) and Harry Fry (Metier 2022) both among recent winners.

Four jockeys have won the November Handicap on three occasions; Steve Donoghue, Billy Nevett, Joe Mercer and Willie Carson.

Betting on the November Handicap

Although favourites have a poor record in the November Handicap, most recent winners have been well-supported.

Horses favouring soft ground are often aimed at this valuable end-of-season race and significant market moves should be noted.

Popular Questions

When is the November Handicap?

The November Handicap is held on Saturday 5th November at 3:13 pm.

The 15:13 race is held at Doncaster Racecourse.

What are important facts about November Handicap?

Here are some important facts about November Handicap:

  • The November Handicap is run at Doncaster Racecourse, Great Britain
  • The November Handicap is for horses aged 3 and older
  • The November Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain
  • The November Handicap distance is 1 mile 3 furlongs and 197 yards

Summary of November Handicap

Thank you for reading our November Handicap guide.

It is one of the toughest handicaps of the flat season and often ran in testing condition.

It is best to side with a horse with good stamina who is relatively fresh.

Related November Articles

Resources

As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.