As is customary, the November Handicap,
run over 1 mile 4 furlongs at Doncaster on Saturay, brings down the curtain on
the Flat season proper on Saturday and, as is customary, a maximum
field of 23 runners is set to go to post in search of one last
hurrah. The November Handicap has produced one winning favourite in
the last ten years and four other winners at single-figure prices in
the same period. Nevertheless, winners at 20/1 (twice), 14/1 and 10/1
(twice) in the last decade give us at least some cause for optimism.
Trendsetter (33/1) belied odds
of 50/1 when keeping on to finish fourth of 12, beaten 5½ lengths,
behind easy winner To Be Wild over course and distance two weeks ago
and could go well again with David Egan taking off 7lb. He’s no
better off with Wrangler for the length he finished behind William
Haggas’ charge on that occasion and he arguably has less scope than
his old rival, but he has winning form on good to firm, good and soft
going and doesn’t look impossibly handicapped on the pick of his
form.
Mirsaale (25/1) emerged from a
lengthy spell in the doldrums in April, following his return to Keith
Dalgleish, but earned himself a 24lb rise in the weights, which has
made life more difficult for him, on the Flat, at least.
Nevertheless, he has demonstrated his well-being with three excellent
efforts over hurdles in recent months, including a close third in
Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow last month. He
remains 7lb higher in the weights than when winning easily over 2
miles at Ripon in April, but is equally effective over this shorter
distance and clearly on good terms with himself.
Unseasonably fast ground on Town Moor
may well put the proverbial cat among the pigeons as far as the
result of this race is concerned but, apart from the two already
mentioned, it’s hard to find anything in the ‘outsider’
category that’s won without ‘soft’ in the going description.
Consequently, we’ll stick with two against the field this week.
Good luck!
Selections: Doncaster 3.35
Trendsetter (33/1 with bet365), Mirsaale (25/1 with
Bet365)
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