The final major handicap of the 2014 Flat turf season, the Betfred November Handicap, promises to be one of the most competitive of the entire campaign too, with bookmakers going 12-1 the field overnight.
It is difficult to dismiss more than a handful of the 23 runners with any confidence and the likelihood of testing conditions does not make the task any easier either. In all, nine of the field were winners last time out, and of those, Mount Logan and Latenightrequest both merit close inspection, but Open Eagle (3.35) just about shades the vote on the back of a strong performance in victory at Redcar earlier this week. That came on the back of two good runs in October, he acts on any going and he can give the excellent David O’Meara another valuable success at the end of a breakthrough season.
Doncaster 1.50 Withernsea could hardly have been more authoritative in an apprentice race on soft ground last time out, winning by three-and-three-quarter lengths, and will appreciate today’s conditions. He is a big price at around 7-1 to give Richard Fahey yet another winner on the final day of another excellent turf campaign.
Wincanton 2.05 There is just 6lb between 10 of the 11 declared runners for this mares’ handicap hurdle according to Timeform and with several making their seasonal debuts, a difficult race to call. Lily Waugh made a promising return at Fontwell last month, but Harry Fry’s runners rarely turn up in anything other than prime condition and Blue Buttons has form in the book at Cheltenham last April to suggest that a mark of 126 will not be beyond her today.
Doncaster 2.25 Several in-form sprinters line up for this Listed event, but none are finishing the season as impressively as Spinatrix, who recorded a time that would make her competitive in Group company when successful off a mark of 105 in an intensely-competitive handicap at York last month. She had the benefit of a good draw there, but still won like a horse with more to offer and is an excellent price at around 7-2.
Wincanton 2.40 Just A Par would be a big player if recapturing his form from early last season in first-time cheekpieces, but Ifyousayso also had a solid first campaign over fences and looked a useful handicap chaser in the making. Tom George’s seven-year-old acts on soft ground and can sit just behind what promises to be a strong pace.
Doncaster 3.00 Princess Loulou was second in a Group One at Deauville earlier in the year, acts on the ground and will take plenty of beating here.
Wincanton 3.15 Irving was not at his best behind Vautour in the Supreme Novice Hurdle in March but had previously looked like one of the season’s best novices and can prove the point off a mark of 148 here. Forgotten Voice is an obvious danger though soft ground may not suit, while former Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby could need a race before he ready to give weight away all round at the age of nine.
