You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.
2027 Mallard Handicap Preview
Scheduled to take place in September of each year at the Doncaster racecourse is the Mallard Handicap, which is run during the St Leger Festival.
The class two handicap is aimed at the stayers on the flat, with it being over a trip of one mile, six and a half furlongs, and is open to runners aged three or older.
Straight out of the York festival
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Mallard Handicap Information:
If you are interested in other predictions at Doncaster, then head over to the Doncaster tips page to see which runners are being supported by the OLBG racing tipsters and also compare those predictions to the runners that make the trend shortlist when added below. You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Other Principal races during the Doncaster St Leger Festival section for links to these.
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How competitive is the Mallard Handicap market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2013, when the race had an over-round of 110%. The race in 2008 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 123%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Mallard Handicap, the over-round has been 116%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £116 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2027 Mallard Handicap Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Mallard Handicap Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Mallard Handicap races over the last 20 renewals:
- Nanton (3:02.64) in 2009
- Curbyourenthusiasm (3:03.34) in 2015
- Sleeping Lion (3:03.93) in 2019
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Mallard Handicap next time out, then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -9.67. Before placing your bet on the 2027 Mallard Handicap, see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.
Over the last 20 renewals, it was Nanton, trained by Jim Goldie and ridden by Daniel Tudhope, who set the fastest winning time in the Mallard Handicap. That runner won the race in a time of 3:02.64 in 2009. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Adrian Paul Keatley and jockey Mark Winn with Legendary Day who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 3:18.28 in the 2023 renewal.
Mallard Handicap Past Winners
Here are the Mallard Handicap past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. Also detailed are the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Mallard Handicap are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 3:14.57 | Valedictory (GB) 4yo 9-5 (2 of 8) 7/4F | Robert Havlin John & Thady Gosden (GB) |
| 2025 3:06.99 | Subsequent (IRE) 4yo 9-12 (11 of 13) 12/1 | Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding (GB) |
| 2024 3:12.60 | Faylaq (GB) 8yo 8-13 (4 of 8) 18/1 | Amie Waugh (3lbs) Jim Goldie (GB) |
| 2023 3:18.28 | Legendary Day (GB) 5yo 9-0 (3 of 7) 12/1 | Mark Winn (3lbs) Adrian Paul Keatley (GB) |
| 2022 3:10.32 | Going Gone (IRE) 4yo 9-13 (11 of 10) 13/2 | Pat Cosgrave Jim Boyle (GB) |
| 2021 3:10.09 | Rhythmic Intent (IRE) 5yo 9-12 (5 of 10) 6/1 | Hollie Doyle Stuart Williams (GB) |
| 2020 3:09.06 | Apparate (GB) 4yo 9-4 (3 of 8) 5/1 | David Egan Roger Varian (GB) |
| 2019 3:03.93 | Sleeping Lion (USA) 4yo 9-3 (5 of 6) 4/1 | Jamie Spencer James Fanshawe (GB) |
| 2018 3:05.92 | Just In Time (GB) 4yo 9-1 (7 of 14) 12/1 | Martin Harley Alan King (GB) |
| 2017 3:10.18 | Time To Study (FR) 3yo 8-8 (7 of 7) 11/8F | P J McDonald Mark Johnston (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Mallard Handicap have been based:
- GB: 20 winners with an additional 38 placings from 203 runners
- IRE: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 2 runners
Mallard Handicap Trainer Statistics
Two trainers have led the Mallard Handicap over the last 20 renewals, with both Jim Goldie and James Fanshawe winning the race twice. Jim Goldie's winners have been with Nanton (2009) and Faylaq (2024). James Fanshawe's wins have been with Old Hundred (2011) and Sleeping Lion (2019).
Here are some of the top Mallard Handicap trainer statistics over the last 20 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):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Goldie | 11-2-6 | +21.00 | +22.26 |
| James Fanshawe | 8-2-3 | +14.00 | +9.88 |
| Sir Michael Stoute | 7-1-2 | +1.50 | +3.32 |
| Andrew Balding | 6-1-2 | +7.00 | +4.17 |
| Alan King | 5-1-4 | +8.00 | +8.22 |
| John Gosden | 5-1-2 | +3.00 | +4.08 |
| Roger Varian | 5-1-3 | +1.00 | +1.80 |
| Michael Bell | 3-1-1 | +8.00 | +6.25 |
| David Simcock | 3-1-2 | +5.00 | +4.64 |
| Hugo Palmer | 3-1-2 | +0.50 | +3.00 |
Mallard Handicap Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Mallard Handicap over the last 20 renewals is Jamie Spencer, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Precision Break (2010), Curbyourenthusiasm (2015) and Sleeping Lion (2019). The only other jockey to have recorded multiple wins in the Mallard Handicap is Robert Havlin (2 wins).
Here are some of the top Mallard Handicap jockey statistics over the last 20 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):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Spencer | 8-3-5 | +26.00 | +17.69 |
| Robert Havlin | 2-2-2 | +8.75 | +5.43 |
| William Buick | 13-1-2 | -9.50 | -2.67 |
| Ryan Moore | 10-1-4 | -1.50 | +2.62 |
| Daniel Tudhope | 8-1-3 | +5.00 | +7.15 |
| Oisin Murphy | 4-1-2 | +9.00 | +5.17 |
| Hollie Doyle | 3-1-3 | +4.00 | +4.27 |
| P J McDonald | 3-1-1 | -0.62 | -1.14 |
| Amie Waugh | 2-1-1 | +17.00 | +9.80 |
| Martin Harley | 2-1-2 | +11.00 | +9.00 |
2027 Mallard Handicap Trends
Favourites' finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, (2, 8), 3, (6, 8), 11, 1, (2, 3), 6, 7, 1, 1, 12, 5, 2, 3, 3, 7, 2, (4, 7), 1
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (75%) - Fewer than 8 races (Further)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Fewer than 5 placings (Further)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - No bigger than 20/1
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Achieved a TS of 67+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Had 2 - 14 placings (Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Ran in England (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Fewer than 2 placings (Higher Class)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Fewer than 5 races (Higher Class)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Placed within last 4 starts
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Carried 126 - 133lbs (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Achieved an RPR of 39+ (Going)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Highest Run is not G1/Cl4
- 19 / 20 (86%) - Won within last 8 starts
- 18 / 20 (74%) - No older than a 5yo
- 18 / 20 (83%) - Beaten no more -1½l (LTO)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Doncaster racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Mallard Handicap. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
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 share your thoughts on the Mallard Handicap by adding a tip on the race here.
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2027 Mallard Handicap Runners & Shortlist
The runners and the final trends shortlist for the 2027 renewal of the Mallard Handicap will be added once the final declarations are confirmed, which are usually made 48 hours before the race.
Mallard Handicap Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +35.75, is when runners had 3 starts in the past 90 days.
❌ The worst-performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners were aged 6; when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-26.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2026: Winner in 2 (5,9) [8 Runners]
- 2025: Winner in 11 (12,4) [13 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 4 (6,5) [8 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 3 (1) [7 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 11 (13,5) [10 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the Mallard Handicap is York; there have been a total of 10 winners of this race who ran at York last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 195 runners, while female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 10 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Mallard Handicap; that stallion, Dubawi, has produced 2 winners (2024,2020).
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Mallard Handicap despite multiple attempts:
- Montjeu (0 Wins from 9 runners)
- Cape Cross (0 Wins from 7 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Precision Break in 2010, winning for Paul Cole at odds of 20/1 under the guidance of Jamie Spencer. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 5 winning favourites in the race. Before placing your bet on the 2027 Mallard Handicap, head over to see which runners the best racing tipsters are tipping today.
Route to the Mallard Handicap
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Mallard Handicap. These are the races in which the recent winners ran before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2026 - Valedictory York - 7th of 16 (6/1) | Ebor Stayers Heritage Handicap |
| 2025 - Subsequent York - 9th of 22 (41/1) | Ebor Handicap |
| 2024 - Faylaq Hamilton - 2nd of 13 (12/1) | Lanark Silver Bell |
| 2023 - Legendary Day York - 3rd of 14 (33/1) | Ebor Middle Distance Heritage Handicap |
| 2022 - Going Gone Ascot - 2nd of 10 (9/1) | Shergar Cup Stayers |
| 2021 - Rhythmic Intent York - 5th of 15 (23/1) | Ebor Middle Distance Heritage Handicap |
| 2020 - Apparate Ascot - 7th of 13 (5/2) | Betfred "Thanks To The NHS" Handicap |
| 2019 - Sleeping Lion York - 8th of 17 (15/2) | Ebor Stayers Heritage Handicap |
| 2018 - Just In Time Goodwood - 1st of 7 (11/8) | Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Handicap |
| 2017 - Time To Study Haydock - 3rd of 10 (11/2) | 32Red.com Handicap |
Principal races during the Doncaster St Leger Festival
Here is the schedule for the four-day St Leger Festival races, which we cover with blogs. Each race will be linked to the race blog and will detail last year's winner in the table below.
Thursday at St Leger Festival
There are a couple of Group 2s which take centre stage on the opening day of the St Leger Festival: the May Hill Stakes, where the two-year-olds feature and then the Park Hill Fillies Stakes, where the older fillies compete. We also have the 2-y-o Stakes, a valuable Class Two race.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Carrie Red Fillies Nursery | Speed Of Sound (IRE) 2yo - 7/4 | Richard Spencer Saffie Osborne |
| Doncaster 2yo Stakes | Night In Vegas (IRE) 2yo - 5/6 | Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop |
| May Hill Stakes | Musical Times (IRE) 2yo - 7/4 | Charlie Appleby William Buick |
| Park Hill Stakes | Waardah (IRE) 4yo - 5/2 | Owen Burrows Callum Rodriguez |
| St Leger Festival Middle Distance Handicap | Devils Peak (GB) 3yo - 15/8 | John & Thady Gosden William Buick |
Friday at St Leger Festival
On Friday, the feature race of the day is the Group 2 Doncaster Cup, which is part of the British Champion Series. The Flying Childers Stakes is another race on Friday, which carries a decent purse on offer for the two-year-olds.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Doncaster Cup | Caballo De Mar (IRE) 5yo - 5/6 | George Scott Oisin Murphy |
| Flying Childers Stakes | Final Objective (IRE) 2yo - 9/4 | Hamad Al Jehani James Doyle |
| Flying Scotsman Stakes | Forbidden Fire (GB) 2yo - 9/2 | Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy |
Saturday at St Leger Festival
The feature race of the festival, the Group 1 St Leger, takes place on Saturday, another race which is part of the British Champion Series. The three races before the St Leger all carry decent purses too: the Champagne Stakes, the Portland and the Park Stakes.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Champagne Stakes | Desert Castle (GB) 2yo - 1/1 | Charlie Appleby Billy Loughnane |
| Park Stakes | More Thunder (IRE) 5yo - 4/5 | William Haggas Tom Marquand |
| Portland Heritage Handicap | Air Force One (IRE) 5yo - 11/2 | Geoff Oldroyd Clifford Lee |
| St Leger | Highwayman (FR) 3yo - 11/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien Saffie Osborne |
| St Leger Festival Mile Handicap | Scoville (GB) 4yo - 5/1 | William Haggas Daniel Tudhope |
| St Leger Festival Ten Furlong Handicap | Thunder Run (IRE) 5yo - 11/4 | K R Burke Clifford Lee |
Sunday at St Leger Festival
Sunday is a bit more low-key, with only one class one race, which is the Sceptre Stakes for the fillies over 7f, and there are also some decent handicaps carrying good purses.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| City of Doncaster Handicap | Inishbeg (IRE) 3yo - 33/1 | Kevin Ryan Jack Nicholls |
| Mallard Handicap | Valedictory (GB) 4yo - 7/4 | John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin |
| Sceptre Stakes | Pina Sonata (GB) 4yo - 12/1 | James Fanshawe Daniel Muscutt |
| St Leger Festival Sprint Handicap | Blue Brother (FR) 5yo - 5/2 | Hamad Al Jehani Callum Rodriguez |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Mallard Handicap Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for Flat racing.
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