Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.No matter how good the party, it is never wise to outstay your welcome, and the 2001 Flat season seems to have chosen just the right moment to retrieve its coat and set off for home. It arrived with mud on its boots almost eight months ago, and takes its leave in much the same way, on soft ground at Doncaster. It has been a fine campaign, one of the best of recent years, but in truth, there are so many promising distractions elsewhere this afternoon that few punters will even bother to say goodbye.
The November Handicap, which sets off in the gathering gloom at 3.35, is the main race of the day at Town Moor, while a Listed sprint half an hour later is the season's final act, and if it were over any more than six furlongs, the field would need headlights. The moment it is over, Kevin Darley will officially pass the jockeys' championship back to Kieren Fallon, who may well go out with a winner on Orientor. The apprentices' title, though, is far from over, and success for Hot Tin Roof and Keith Dalgleish, who trails Chris Catlin by a single winner this morning, could snatch the spoils at the last possible moment. Dalgleish has a full book of seven rides at Doncaster, while Catlin has just three.
The November Handicap is the one Flat race which will matter to the average punter this afternoon, though, even if it is not the sort of race in which anyone should attempt to recoup a season's-worth of losses in one swoop. The betting opened on Tuesday, but after four days, most firms found it hard to separate Mesmeric and April Stock at the head of the market, and it will be a surprise if it is much less than 5-1 the field when they finally set off.
Batswing, who won the race on heavy going last year off a mark of 80, is just 2lb higher this afternoon and is another who will carry plenty of bets, not least because he will again have some cut in the ground. It was good to soft when he finished 10th of 13 at Ascot last time, though, and he may now be in decline, so the safest, if also rather obvious, vehicle for a small investment is probably April Stock (3.35). Gerard Butler's mare was third in that same race at Ascot, but got no run at the top of the straight and ran on with real purpose when she finally saw daylight. A step back up to 12 furlongs can only improve her chance today, and a price of around 6-1 is a fair one.
Xellance will have Dalgleish giving it everything in the saddle, and is weighted to run Ranville close on their form at Newbury last month, but Ranville (3.00) is still improving so rapidly that he is impossible to oppose.
Double Crossed (2.25), unraced since the Lingfield Oaks Trial, could be the answer to the Serlby Stakes, but it is the jumpers who really fire the imagination today. Florida Pearl is back for another campaign, and should be good enough to win the Champion Chase at Down Royal, although Foxchapel King is a fair opponent at the weights, while at Wincanton, Azertyuiop, last year's Kingwell Hurdle winner, returns in the Elite Hurdle. He may need to be close to his best, though, to give 10lb to Janus Du Cochet (next best 1.35), and with Tom Scudamore taking off another 3lb, Martin Pipe's runner is the value call.
Enrique (3.15) should win the Badger Beer Chase, the feature event at the West Country track, but punters with an eye for the future will turn instead to Chepstow, where the Tote Silver Trophy card generally pinpoints a couple of horses on the fast track. Royal Auclair, another of Martin Pipe's chasing recruits from France, will be a popular choice in the novice chase, won last season by Bindaree, but it may pay to oppose him with Gola Cher (2.00), who is highly rated by Alan King.
Pipe should take the Persian War Hurdle with the debutant Polar Red (12.55), who was fifth of nine in a Listed race at Newmarket last time out and one of the highest-rated recruits to hurdling we will see this season, but Majed, who has won only one handicap to date, can be taken on in the Silver Trophy. Legal Lunch (nap 2.30) has gone up 8lb for his latest success, but won with plenty in hand and should follow up today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments