History beckons for Lord Melbourne in November Handicap

Ralph Beckett holds a strong hand in the Virgin Bet November Handicap, as defending champion Lord Melbourne bids to become the first two-time winner of the traditional end-of-season finale at Doncaster.

Limited to just the one appearance this year, when making a winning return at Epsom in September, a return to Town Moor was the obvious place for the five-year-old who could bring up an elongated hat-trick and is joined in the field by the lightly-raced Master Vintner.

Beckett said: “They are both in good shape and coming off wins and I was pleased with Lord Melbourne’s comeback over a trip that was probably short of his best.

“He did it well and perhaps too well from a handicapping point of view (raised 9lb), but nevertheless it was a good effort over a trip short of his optimum.

“It wasn’t so much the plan with him (to go back to Doncaster) but he picked up an injury when he won this race last year which is why it took him so long to come back. It was the obvious race though once he had come back and won at Epsom.”

Like his stablemate, Master Vintner has the chance to notch up a three-timer as well after a promising start to his career.

Beckett added: “I was very happy with Master Vintner on his last start, he did very well and I was very happy with how it all panned out for him.

“He lacks experience but he will handle the ground.”

George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock won both of his outings at two and looked booked for better things this term, but an interrupted season has curtailed his progress and he has been left to go close without adding to his tally in three starts this term.

One of those near-misses came at this track during the St Leger Festival after which he was denied a short head on his first try at a mile and a half at Leicester.

Boughey said: “He’s a fresh horse who has only had a few runs this year after an interrupted preparation throughout the summer.

“He’s probably not ideally drawn (one) but we will be looking to get forward on him and I think he should have a nice each-way chance.

“He’s a horse we’ve always thought plenty of and hoped he might be out of this grade by this point, but he’s not and he needs to go and put his best forward to do so. He’s definitely got all the credentials to win a race like this.”

Other fancied runners include Atherstone Warrior for Gary and Josh Moore, who is on a hat-trick and was fourth over five furlongs on Town Moor in the last year’s Brocklesby Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained Castle Cove, meanwhile, looked a possible non-stayer over an extended mile and five furlongs at Newbury and could prove ideally suited by this first try at a mile and a half.

Haggas said: “He ran well at Newbury over a mile and five and will enjoy coming back to a mile and a half and the forecast ground.

“He’ll need a bit of luck and it’s a strong race, but he’s very well and it would be a fairly unique double for the owner-breeders Jon and Julia Aisbitt. They bred the winner of the Lincoln, Godwinson, and they’ve a chance of winning the finale of the Flat season in November.

“They are great owners and have their horses with us and Jack Channon and are marvellous supporters.”