The Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster has been a bit of a graveyard for favourites down the year, though it’s often a fancied horse that lands the spoils.
This year’s renewal on Town Moor looks the most open for years, a theory emphasised by the fact that we currently have a 10/1 market leader in Mount Logan (10/1 with the sponsors and William Hill). His jockey, Andrea Atzeni, rode the winner of the big race on Racing Post Trophy day at Doncaster a couple of weeks ago and is looking for his own autumn double as the curtain falls on the Flat season on Turf in the UK. But trainer Luca Cumani also has the unexposed Sir Walter Scott in the line-up and has booked champion jockey Richard Hughes to ride. He’s a 22/1 chance with BetVictor but will need to improve on this year’s efforts if he’s to take a hand in the finish.
Mount Logan is a three-year-old and the classic generation is well represented this year. Last month’s Newmarket winner Farquhar (12/1 with Betfred and William Hill) and Latenightrequest (14/1 with Betfred, BetVictor and Coral) both look interesting. The latter beat Dashing Star (a general 16/1) and penalised Redcar scorer Open Eagle (12/1 with William Hill) over the course and distance of the November Handicap two weeks ago and beat Headline News (16/1 with Betfred and William Hill) at Haydock earlier, though was behind Farquhar at Newmarket. Old Town Boy had Aramist, Esteaming, Ardlui and Kings Bayonet behind when successful at York last month and a 6lb rise in the weights isn’t prohibitive. Philip McBride‘s charge is 12/1 with Skybet and betway.
This really does look wide-open, though Ennistown (a general 25/1) and First Mohican (20/1 with Coral) might have too much weight and I’d doubt whether Eurystheus (a general 25/1) and One Pekan (20/1 with Coral) will stay. I do like Mount Logan as he’s a progressive type who might be verging on Listed class while I wouldn’t put anybody off Communicator at William Hill’s 22/1. Andrew Balding‘s six-year-old gets no respite from the handicapper but has run well in some very tough handicaps and will be staying on in this when plenty have cried enough. PLUTOCRACY is going to be the selection at the general 16/1 in the belief that he’s probably capable of winning a race like this off his current mark of 92.
He was returning from a lengthy absence when a beaten favourite on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton last month but would have gone close but for meeting trouble in-running. This has probably been the long-term plan as he’s only had two runs this year and the booking of Pat Smullen increases confidence that David Lanigan has him spot-on.
