News
Wednesday November 11 2026
Plumpton Winner Havaila Eyes Premier Handicap Glory
Another National Hunt season has dawned from the driest summer since 1976. As ever, there will be a host of race days at Plumpton this season, culminating in the prestigious Sussex Champion and Sussex National handicap chases in April 2027. The latter of those two races was won in fine style by Havaila in April, who showcased exactly why he was the bookmakers’ favourite by cruising through the field to assert dominance two fences from home – before pulling away to win by five lengths. Big things are expected from the seven-year-old in 2026/27, including a potential shot at some of the most valuable handicaps on the circuit. Could Plumpton Racecourse have unearthed another future Class 1 winner?
Dates for the Diary
ookmakers are already starting to publish their ante-post odds for the season’s big races over fences. Gaelic Warrior has been installed as the early 7/2 favourite in the ante-post betting online for the King George VI Chase, while Grey Dawning is the even-money jolly for the Betfair Chase at the end of November.
There are some huge Premier Handicaps to come in 2027, but before the year is out there’s still plenty of big races for those underweights to contest – the Newbury Gold Cup, on November 28, might just be the ideal target for Havaila.
Jamie Moore, who took over the running of the family training yard with brother Josh after dad Gary retired in October, has other options for his charge, but the seven-year-old has already shown his fondness for left-handed tracks – and a trip in excess of three miles – when landing the Sussex National Handicap Chase. And that was franked just a few weeks later when, once again on his beloved fast ground, Havaila prevailed in Sandown’s version of the Gold Cup handicap chase – defying a penalty of 10lb, no less in a nail-biting short-head finish.
So there’s no shortage of options for the Moores to ponder this season, then, with a horse that has shown Premier Handicap form aplenty.
Not So Secret Des Dieux
The other big scorer at Plumpton in April was Secret Des Dieux, who landed the Sussex Champion Handicap Chase at the track.
Despite being the most inexperienced campaigner in the field by some distance, James Owen’s six-year-old took advantage of an enterprising ride from Jonathan Burke to rarely slip out of contention – leaving a classy field, which included former Arkle champion Edwardstone and prolific handicap winner Matterhorn, trailing in his wake.
That was Secret Des Dieux’s fourth win from seven starts last season, marking him down as one very much to watch this term too.
But what will his key targets be? Much will depend upon the handicapper, of course, whose weights often determine where a horse is run, but the principal two-and-a-bit mile handicaps will surely be on the radar of Owen and the horse’s owner, Pat Betts. Betts has owned some super horses in his time, including Private Audition, winner of the 1988 Cesarewitch. He's due another champ.
Given that Secret Des Dieux has won on both fast and heavy ground, the scope is plentiful – two of the bigger handicaps at Cheltenham this winter, the December Gold Cup and the Fairlawne Handicap Chase, might just be on the agenda.
Whatever the season holds, once again Plumpton Racecourse has helped to unearth the stars of today and tomorrow.
