15:45 Doncaster

Saturday 8 November 2025

All11:3712:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Virgin Bet November Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 2m 42.33s

(18)

Grey Cuban^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: H Palmer| OR: 107| C

25/1

Course winner who has scored over 1¼m at Chester and York (Insanity second) this year. Creditable third of 10 in 1¼m handicap here (heavy) 14 days ago, rallying in a manner which suggests he should prove effective over this longer distance.

Form: 100313

(9)

Stressfree⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 103| D

25/1

Hold-up performer who gained reward for a string of consistent efforts and just about better than ever when successful at Haydock (1½m) in May. Several solid efforts in high-end handicaps since, including 2 lengths fifth (Castle Cove fourth) at Newbury (13f, soft) last time. Seventh 12 months ago.

Form: 059435

(13)

Lord Melbourne⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jack Dace⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Has taken form to a new level since joining Ralph Beckett, ending last season with a win in this race on heavy. Improved again to make a successful reappearance over 1¼m at Epsom 6 weeks ago. Raised a further 9 lb for that easy win but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 14131-1

(2)

Tashkhan³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 101

66/1

This year's staying efforts suggest he's not quite the force of old and remains to be seen whether this drop to 1½m for the first time in over 4 years is what's needed to spark a revival.

Form: 30-6607

(15)

Maxi King¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: K P De Foy| OR: 100| C| D

18/1

Course winner. 9/2, respectable third of 5 in handicap at Newcastle (12.5f) 18 days ago. Only eighth in this last year.

Form: 568-343

(19)

Insanity²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: A King| OR: 100| D

33/1

Won at Ayr (13f) in June and arrives on the back of 3 excellent placed efforts, doing his best work late when ½-length second of 14 to Grey Cuban over 1¼m at York 4 weeks ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 610322

(23)

Chemistry^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan| T: I Furtado| OR: 100

100/1

Quickly developed into a pretty smart stayer for Aidan O'Brien last year, including a listed win, but disappointed in a 2m Naas handicap on final 3-y-o start and remote third of 4 in 2¼m Pontefract conditions race on belated return for new connections.

Form: 3/1120-3

(1)

Hopewell Rock³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 102

4/1

Impressed when winning both starts at 2, including on soft. Has continued to improve in defeat in handicaps this season, failing by only a nose when stepped up to 1½m at Leicester 32 days ago. Unlikely he's reached his limit after only 5 starts.

Form: 11-322

(22)

Tiernan^t1⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 101| BF

25/1

Useful maiden who was a close third in an 11f Hamilton listed event (good to firm) in July. Beaten at short odds in a novice back there in August but retains potential now faced with a stiffer stamina test on handicap bow. Showed promise on soft on debut. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 4432

(12)

Majestic¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Rose Dawes⁽⁵⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 96

100/1

Ended long losing run stretching back to the Cambridgeshire in 2022 in 1¼m handicap in Bahrain in January. Resumed from 6 months off with a solid third at Goodwood (1½m) in August but well beaten twice since.

Form: 109308

(5)

Metier^t²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Nicola Burns⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 95| CD

33/1

Useful dual-purpose performer who goes well on deep ground, including a 2022 win in this. Also landed the 2023 Chester Cup but has largely struggled since, including on AW at Kempton when last seen in March. Can't dismiss back under testing conditions but needs to prove he's the force of old.

Form: 17/758-8

(7)

Platoon²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 95

150/1

Placed in an AW listed race on second and final start for Aidan O'Brien but down the field on all 3 outings since joining Stella Barclay, including a pair of 1m handicaps on return this autumn. The significant step up in trip needs to spark a major upturn in his fortunes.

Form: 130-00

(20)

Oneforthegutter^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95| D

33/1

Made the frame in several top handicaps in 2024 and resumed winning ways in a valuable event at the Newmarket July meeting. Down the field in 3 outings since but he was third in this race last year.

Form: 921000

(8)

Hot Fuss¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 93

25/1

Useful juvenile hurdler last winter and also bagged an AW Flat win in February. Seemingly failed to stay an extended 2¼m in Chester Cup in May and not seen since.

Form: 7233-10

(4)

Castle Cove⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| BF

4/1

Much improved to make a winning handicap debut/reappearance over 1¼m at Chester in June. Beaten 3 times since but he shaped well (set too much to do) when stepped up to 13f at Newbury (soft) last time, keeping on for fourth. Remains unexposed around this trip. Hooded first time. Big player.

Form: 44-1644

(6)

Master Builder⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: P J McDonald| T: D Menuisier| OR: 89

22/1

Took a valuable prize at Haydock last autumn. Looked set for another productive campaign when second on Epsom reappearance in April but has disappointingly failed to build on it. Well handicapped again but has too much to prove and was well beaten in this 12 months ago.

Form: 0-24060

(17)

Miss Dolly Rocker³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: George Wood| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 89| D

33/1

Two wins around 1½m for the Kublers this year, latterly in the mud at Bath in September Ran as well as could be expected when stepped up to listed level back there last month but it has resulted in her mark going up again. First start for Faye Bramley.

Form: 019415

(3)

Atherstone Warrior¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Ashley Lewis⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 94

11/2

Goes well in the mud, winning 1¼m handicaps at Sandown and Newbury this autumn. Raised another 9 lb but some of it is offset by his rider's claim and he promises to be suited by 1½m. A must for the shortlist.

Form: 4-30411

(10)

Miller Spirit^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Toby Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 89| BF| D

16/1

In good form last autumn, including sixth of 23 to Lord Melbourne in this. Hasn't quite hit the same heights this year, with latest near miss at Newbury not a step back in the right direction as he was subsequently found to have carried 15 lb less than he should have done and was disqualified.

Form: 42846D

(21)

Castle Stuart²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

16/1

Dual winner for Karl Burke, including on heavy. Has run well in a pair of 1¼m handicaps at York since joining Richard Fahey and looks ready for this step up to 1½m.

Form: 5-31374

(11)

Master Vintner⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92| D

15/2

Built on debut promise for Andrew Oliver in the spring when winning novices at Goodwood (1¼m, heavy) and Lingfield (1½m, AW) for Ralph Beckett this autumn. This is a tough start to his handicap career but he has bags of unexposed potential.

Form: 311

(14)

Adjuvant⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 87| BF| D

25/1

Winless since 2023. Latest Yarmouth second was creditable but it came in a 5-runner 0-85 handicap and it seems unlikely he'll snap his losing run in a race as competitive as this one. Ninth in this last year.

Form: 749-502

Non-Runners

(16)

Great Bedwyn⁴⁸

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: R Hannon J: Joe Leavy

Forecasts

Castle Cove (4/1), Hopewell Rock (4/1), Atherstone Warrior (11/2), Master Vintner (15/2), Lord Melbourne (8/1), Castle Stuart (16/1), Miller Spirit (16/1), Maxi King (18/1), Master Builder (22/1), Stressfree (25/1), Hot Fuss (25/1), Adjuvant (25/1), Grey Cuban (25/1), Tiernan (25/1), Miss Dolly Rocker (33/1), Insanity (33/1), Oneforthegutter (33/1), Metier (33/1), Great Bedwyn (50/1), Tashkhan (66/1), Majestic (100/1), Chemistry (100/1), Platoon (150/1)

Defeats on his last 3 starts shouldn't be taken to suggest CASTLE COVE's progression has come to a halt and he's taken to deny Lord Melbourne back-to-back wins in this race. Hopewell Rock, Insanity and totally unexposed 3-y-o Master Vintner are a few of many others to consider in a typically competitive finale to the Flat season.