First Light could shine for Gosden at Doncaster

WE say goodbye to the flat season on the turf tomorrow, when the November Handicap is the Doncaster highlight. The race always looks very open, yet in every year but one since 2011, the winner has been sent off at 10/1 or less. The only favourite to oblige in that period was Open Eagle in 2014, at odds of 15/2. The going was desperately heavy and the plan was to keep the horse on the wide outside through the whole mile-anda-half to find better ground. He covered a much greater distance than his 22 rivals, but the plan worked and he won by 12 lengths.

John Gosden, the trainer of six winners of the race, has a special affection for it. His father Towser targeted it when it was known as the Manchester Handicap, being run at that old course near the end of each season until it closed in 1963. Towser’s last big winner was Concealdem in the 1965 race, when it was called the Ovaltine (there’s a sponsor you don’t hear of any more) Manchester Handicap even though it had been transferred to Doncaster. This year John and Thady Gosden run First Light, who should like the drop in class and trip.

The much-discussed Goshen lines up for Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle tomorrow. Since his desperately unlucky fall at the final flight of the 2020 Triumph Hurdle his form figures are 630185. However, the win was at Wincanton and he is better going right-handed, and with the Moores in such good form this is a golden opportunity to get his career back on track.

Sometimes what might appear to the casual observer as mundane midweek jumps meetings actually contain a great deal of interest. Such was the case at Chepstow on Wednesday. The horses running there weren’t top class, but plenty in the maidens and novice races had potential. All 13 runners in the 2m novices limited handicap chase had winning form in bumpers or over hurdles. Witness Protection made all the running at a good pace to score, but the first five home will all have pleased connections. This is especially true of Can You Call in fifth, who finished nicely and will do better next time.

Another all-the-way winner was Brave Kingdom, who won the 2m4f maiden hurdle most impressively. Though tiring a little at the end he was still nine lengths clear if Camdonian, another first-time-out Skelton horse. Both are promising.

On Call and Dr Kananga duelled for the lead for most of the 3m handicap chase, going a great gallop. The ultra-game On Call went on to record his second successive course and distance win, but he will be hit by the handicapper.