2022 Virgin Bet Handicap Preview, Trends & Analysis

Scheduled to take place in October of each year at the Doncaster Racecourse is this Class 2 handicap that is run over a distance of five furlongs. The race is open to runners aged three or older and because of the time of year, it can be a testing five-furlong trip, the race does tend to attract a decent size field.

Our dedicated Doncaster Betting Picks will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Virgin Bet Handicap but will also have predictions for each meeting at Doncaster throughout the season so be sure to head over there.

The runner that holds the record over the past 11 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2013 renewal when Dungannon from Andrew Balding who under the guidance of Oisin Murphy, won in a time of 1:01.70, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Steps, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Neil Callan set the quickest time of 57.95 in the 2011 renewal.

These are the top three quickest run Virgin Bet Handicap over the last 11 renewals:

• 2011 - Steps (57.95)
• 2016 - Soie DLeau (58.19)
• 2010 - Hoof It (58.23)

How competitive is the Virgin Bet Handicap market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 11 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2020 when the race had an over-round of 117%. The race in 2015 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 137%, whilst on average over the last 11 renewals of the Virgin Bet Handicap, the over-round has been 128% that means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £128 which is bet.

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 11 if you had followed the winner of the Virgin Bet Handicap next time out then you would have back a total of 2 winners. Backing all 10 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of +4.50. Ahead of the 2022 Virgin Bet Handicap why not head over to the racing predictions for tips on other races today.

Here are the Virgin Bet Handicap past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. Also detailed is the stall which the horse came from and also the total number of runners in the race. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Virgin Bet Handicap as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the starting price the horse was sent off.

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Virgin Bet Handicap have been based:

• GB: 11 winners with an additional 28 placings from 196 runners
• NOR: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
• IRE: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 3 runners

The leading trainer in the Virgin Bet Handicap over the last 11 renewals is Andrew Balding who has won the race 2 times. Those 2 winners came from Dungannon (2013) & Dungannon (2014). There are two trainers who have not had the best of times over the last 11 renewals in the Virgin Bet Handicap, Richard Fahey has sent a total of 12 runners to the race without recording any wins whilst Ronald Harris has sent out 10 without a winner.

Here are some of the top Virgin Bet Handicap trainer statistics over the last 11 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

The leading jockey in the Virgin Bet Handicap over the last 11 renewals is Oisin Murphy who has won the race 2 times. Those 2 winners came from Dungannon (2013) & Dungannon (2014).

Here are some of the top Virgin Bet Handicap jockey statistics over the last 11 renewals (R = Rides, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): ,11,(16,7),1,15,6,15,(2,10,13),10,(1,5),7,1

The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones as you would expect them to do well.

• 12 / 12 (61%) - Made 6-24 starts (Further)
• 12 / 12 (61%) - Had 1-4 wins (Season)
• 12 / 12 (68%) - Had 2-6 placings (Season)
• 12 / 12 (72%) - Beaten no more 8¼l (Debut)
• 11 / 12 (56%) - Made 7-11 starts (1 Year)
• 11 / 12 (61%) - Field of 9-14 (Debut)
• 11 / 12 (64%) - Never placed off 25/1+
• 11 / 12 (65%) - Had 2-11 placings (Handicaps)

Remember to use the trends listed above along with the Doncaster racing predictions to see if you can find the winner of the Virgin Bet Handicap. If there is anything that you do not understand in this blog, please do leave a comment or alternatively, head over to the Horse Racing Terms and Abbreviations article which is available in the OLBG Betting School section.

Are you already a member? If not, then why not! With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, It is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then why share your thoughts on the Virgin Bet Handicap by adding a tip on the race here.

The trend factor which has produced 6+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +45.00 is when runners had 1 career place at the track. The worst performing factor which has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 0 season wins, when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-75.

Here are the most recent winning draws along with the further placings in brackets:

• 2021: Winner in 12 (6) [14 Runners]
• 2020: Winner in 2 (1,11) [10 Runners]
• 2018: Winner in 17 (16,18,1) [22 Runners]
• 2017: Winner in 17 (5,8) [15 Runners]
• 2016: Winner in 17 (18,9,3) [21 Runners]

The course which has produced the most winners of the Virgin Bet Handicap is Ascot, there has been a total number of 3 winners of this race who ran at Ascot last time out.

The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 12 winners from a total of 176 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 24 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Virgin Bet Handicap, that stallion is Monsieur Bond who has produced 4 winners (2016,2014,2013,2010).

These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Virgin Bet Handicap despite multiple attempts:

• Pivotal (0 Wins from 13 runners)
• Acclamation (0 Wins from 8 runners)
• Dubawi (0 Wins from 7 runners)
• Elusive Quality (0 Wins from 7 runners)
• Kheleyf (0 Wins from 6 runners)

Looking at the winning odds over the last 11 renewals, the biggest priced winner was Tomily in 2017 when winning for Richard Hannon at odds of 28/1 under the guidance of Hollie Doyle. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 11 renewals there has been a total of 3 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2022 Virgin Bet Handicap remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page.

Here are some other notable races at Doncaster racecourse for throughout the racing season which you may be interested in.

Races in January

• Sky Bet Handicap Chase

Races in March

• Grimthorpe Handicap Chase
• Lincoln Handicap
• Spring Mile

Races in September

• Carrie Red Fillies Nursery
• Cazoo 6f Handicap
• Cazoo 7f Handicap
• Champagne Stakes
• Doncaster 2yo Stakes
• Doncaster Cup
• Flying Childers Stakes
• Flying Scotsman Stakes
• Hippo Pro 3 Handicap
• Mallard Handicap
• May Hill Stakes
• Park Hill Stakes
• Park Stakes
• Portland Heritage Handicap
• Scarbrough Stakes
• Sceptre Stakes
• St Leger
• Vermantia Handicap

Races in October

• Doncaster Stakes
• Futurity Trophy
• Vertem Investing In The Future Handicap