Timeform Daily: November Handicap, Saturday, Doncaster 14:35

The November Handicap takes place at Doncaster

Timeform give their take on the last big race of the Flat turf season.

Retrieve smart at up to 1m in Australia. Pair of creditable efforts in handicaps this term before landing listed event at Newmarket in September and clear second behind Novellist in Milan Group 1 since.

Songcraft won on his first 4 starts, including twice at Meydan earlier this year. Back to winning ways in 3-runner event at Salisbury and creditable third in St Simon Stakes in most recent of 3 runs since.

Kirthill twice proved successful in 2011. Resumed progress to win 19-runner 1m event at York in August, helped by being held up in a strongly-run race, and shaped as if still in form when fourth at Newbury since.
 
First Mohican is unbeaten in 3 starts, namely 2-y-o maiden at Yarmouth and 1m handicaps at Redcar and Nottingham last month, beating Art Scholar in 15-runner event for latter success. Will go on improving.

Voodoo Prince improved for return to take 1m Ripon handicap in August. Even better form when third in listed race at Goodwood next time and not disgraced when fourth at Ascot since. Tried in cheekpieces now.

Darley Sun was a smart handicapper in 2009, winning Cesarewitch impressively. Very lightly-raced since and while showing he retains ability on most recent outing at Pontefract is passed over dropping back to 1m.

Communicator won a 1m handicap for Michael Bell at York in 2011 and showed useful form when taking 1m Chester event in August. Neck second to Tominator at that venue since reads well also, so respected.

Blue Surf has improved this term, winning at Windsor and Goodwood, and better still to land 12-runner event at Newbury 2 weeks ago. All 3 victories over 1m, but 1m likely to be within his compass.

Art Scholar is in the form of his life at present, third success this year coming at Nottingham (1m) last month and good runner-up efforts twice since, including over C&D 2 weeks ago. May well progress again.

Crystal Gal was useful last season, winning Haydock listed event, but not hit the same heights this time round and hard to be positive about at present.

Art History landed brace of handicaps last autumn for Mark Johnston. Failed to impress with attitude for John Ferguson over hurdles and blinkered now after running poorly behind Party Line on recent C&D return.

War Poet a winner here (1m) in April, but has struggled since and while his latest effort behind Kirthill at York is best excused (caught rather isolated), he still looks too high in the weights.

The Tiger returned from 15 months on sidelines to win heavy-ground Ripon maiden in July, and marked progress when adding to that in handicaps at Pontefract and Catterick (1m) last month. One to consider.

Scrapper Smith came back to very best when staying-on third behind Tominator and Communicator at Chester (13.4f) in September, but well below form twice since and others make much more appeal.

Sirvino is a useful handicapper, with some sound efforts to his name this term without winning. Denied clear run around 3f out when fourth behind Party Line and Art Scholar over C&D last time, so folly to dismiss.

Nicholascopernicus progressed to take soft-ground handicaps over C&D and at Newbury in June and ready winner of 10-runner event at Goodwood last month. Further improvement not out of question, so should be in mix.

Clayton ran away with 1m Southwell maiden on debut. Showed progressive form when placed in 3 handicaps after, and shaped better than result suggests after 4 months off at Newmarket last month. Respected.

Bridle Belle took advantage of reduced mark to land 11-runner 10.4f event in the mud at York last month and followed up at Newmarket (1m) last week. Thriving, but further 4 lb rise makes life tougher.

Samba King improved to win first 2 starts on soft/heavy this year, but hit and miss since, well behind a few of these over C&D a fortnight ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Hillview Boy has been winless since May 2010, though runner-up at Hamilton in May and at Ayr last month. Not discredited behind Party Line over C&D since, but difficult to see him reversing that form in this event.

Party Line hasn't looked back since going handicapping over 1m, beating several of today's rivals in C&D event a fortnight ago. Tough, reliable and impossible to ignore here despite 5 lb weight rise.

Hanoverian Baron landed first success for 2 years when scoring easily at Bath (11.7f) in September. Fair fifth in competitive Ascot race last time, but others look more progressive/better treated.

Bollin Greta stepped up on previous efforts this year to score at York in July. Regressive form in 3 outings since, though, and likely to be found wanting in this company.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. First Mohican
2. Party Line
3. Art Scholar

Timeform View: First Mohican is already smart after only 3 starts and he may well still be ahead of this handicap mark. He can maintain his unbeaten record despite the presence of several fellow in-form and improving sorts, with Party Line and Art Scholar, first and second over C&D 2 weeks ago, at the head of that list.