11:37 Doncaster

Saturday 8 November 2025

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

Virgin Bet Training Series Final Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 11:39 | Winning time: 1m 31.8s

(13)

Talis Evolvere²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Toby Moore⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| D

10/1

Some good efforts earlier this season and has taken steps back in the right direction the last twice, latterly finishing second in a Class 3 Haydock handicap (1m, good to soft). Remains on a handy mark and, with highly promising apprentice Toby Moore booked, there's lots to like.

Form: 589042

(18)

Ata Rangi¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Ashley Lewis| T: E Walker| OR: 86| D

16/1

Resumed winning ways with a comfortable victory in 11-runner handicap at Haydock (7f, good to firm) last month. Effective on slow ground, too, as he reiterated when fifth of 14 over a mile here (heavy) a fortnight ago, but it's nevertheless likely that he will again find one or two too good.

Form: 192175

(7)

United Approach¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Donagh Murphy⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 85| C

33/1

Winner of 6f novice here in 2023 and, having hit the crossbar a couple of times last year, he resumed with a creditable third in a 7-runner Kempton handicap in April. However, absent since a below-par display at Newcastle the following month, subsequent to which he was gelded and has changed hands.

Form: 2205-38

(5)

It Just Takes Time²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Jack Nicholls| T: M Walford| OR: 84| CD

11/1

Made the frame several times this season prior to deservedly regaining the winning thread at Beverley (7.4f, good to soft) in September. Followed that with a solid effort in defeat at Leicester and, having won a division of this race off the same mark 12 months ago, he's a strong candidate.

Form: 302713

(17)

Flag Of St George^b⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Alexandra Egan⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 84| D

14/1

Back-to-back winner of 7f handicaps at Ascot and Chepstow during the summer and lost little caste in defeat when runner-up at Haydock (7f, good) last time. Has performed well on good to soft/soft in the past and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 321102

(9)

Mostar Dreams⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Lauren Young| T: A Keatley| OR: 83| D

20/1

Latest win at Haydock (7f, good to firm) in August and put in another good shift over that C&D when third in the handicap won by Ata Rangi the following month. However, she was well held when prominent in the betting for the Ayr Bronze Cup last time and needs to bounce back on debut for new yard.

Form: 401830

(16)

Eminency^h,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Jack Dace| T: S C Williams| OR: 82| D

25/1

Took a few runs to get going this season, but returned to form when going close at Goodwood in June and has won twice since, including on latest start at Yarmouth (7f, good) where he got on top close home after briefly encountering traffic problems. 3 lb rise fair and should remain competitive.

Form: 202141

(14)

Dragon Of Malta^b,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Julian Pietropaolo| T: P F O'Donnell| OR: 82| D

22/1

Irish raider who has been in good heart of late, winning back-to-back handicaps at Listowel at up to 1m (both on soft ground) in September before finishing third of 15 at Bellewstown last month. Very much one to consider off the same mark here.

Form: 402113

(12)

Quest For Fun^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Jake Dickson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

14/1

Back on the scoresheet when dead-heating at York (7f, good) during the summer and hasn't done a great deal wrong since, finishing runner-up for the third from his last 4 starts at Catterick (7f, good to soft) last time. On the downside, his mark has crept back up and others may be better treated.

Form: 172262

(11)

Tolstoy⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Shay Farmer| T: B Ellison| OR: 81| D

22/1

Looked on the way back when second at York in June, but he otherwise hasn't been at it this season. Probably best to look elsewhere on this occasion, for all that he's dangerous to completely rule out off this reduced mark.

Form: 989507

(6)

Zowal¹⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 80

40/1

Winner of 1m maiden at Musselburgh on reappearance in April, but this French import has failed to build on that since and is readily passed over here.

Form: 32-177P

(4)

La Ferveur⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Elizabeth Gale| T: R & J & J Insole| OR: 80

80/1

Won 9-runner maiden at Granville-St-Pair-Sur-Mer (8.4f, good) on final run for Andre Fabre in June. Subsequently changed hands for 50,000 gns, but she has failed to beat a rival home in 2 starts for new connections.

Form: 324148

(15)

Rainbow Nebula^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ethan Tindall| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

16/1

Least exposed runner in the field and showed improved form on just his fifth start to win a 17-runner handicap at Ascot (7f, good) last month, suited by the step up to this trip. Shaped as though still in decent form when fifth of 15 here (heavy) 2 weeks ago and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 3-22515

(3)

Blazing Son⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Matthew Slater⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 77| D

50/1

Clearly more of a force on the AW tracks nowadays and, having failed to make an impact on his 2 previous runs on turf this year, he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 093313

(20)

Lir Speciale¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: C J Whiteley⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 77| CD

11/2

Made it 2-2 here when keeping on well to beat the re-opposing Shazani and 13 others in a heavy-ground C&D handicap a fortnight ago. 5 lb rise tolerable and should be on the premises once more.

Form: 220351

(10)

Flying Fletcher⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Alfie Redman⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74| BF

18/1

Placed in handicaps at Newcastle the last twice and also performed with credit on turf a couple of times during the summer, including when fifth of 11 over 6f here in July. On a workable mark, but the fact that his record stands at 0-9 on turf is somewhat off-putting.

Form: 055932

(1)

Look Back Smiling⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alfie Gee⁽⁵⁾| T: G Tutty| OR: 73| CD

5/1

Winless since scoring over a mile here in March 2024 and could finish only fifth in the division of this handicap won last year by It Just Takes Time. Would have a serious chance off this mark if on-song, but he's not the most reliable of types.

Form: 434570

(8)

Shazani¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Taryn Langley| T: S R Bowring| OR: 74| C

7/1

Bounced back to his best when landing a 14-runner conditions race here (1m, good) in September, making all. Followed that with a below-par display, but firmly back on track when chasing home Lir Speciale over C&D recently and should again make his presence felt.

Form: 958102

(19)

Golden Pharaoh^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K S McHugh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 72| D

16/1

Opened account on these shores in 6-runner handicap at Ffos Las (7.4f, heavy) in September. Beaten less than 3 lengths when fourth in the C&D handicap won by Lir Speciale a couple of weeks ago and he's a live each-way contender.

Form: 290314

(2)

Terries Royale^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Mason Paetel| T: M Appleby| OR: 70

5/1

Lightly-raced for his age and enjoyed a fruitful time of things in 2024, despite displaying some quirks. Didn't return to action until September this year, but has gradually worked his way back to form and merits respect on the back of a creditable C&D third last time. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 12-6583

(21)

Edgewater Drive^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Lillie Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 66

33/1

Has found form recently after a breathing operation, winning twice over 5f in October, most recently drawing clear of his rivals in good style on soft ground at Nottingham. Has won twice over 6f, too, but it's worrying that both runs beyond that trip have resulted in heavy defeats.

Form: 491431

Forecasts

Look Back Smiling (5/1), Terries Royale (5/1), Lir Speciale (11/2), Shazani (7/1), Talis Evolvere (10/1), It Just Takes Time (11/1), Quest For Fun (14/1), Flag Of St George (14/1), Golden Pharaoh (16/1), Rainbow Nebula (16/1), Ata Rangi (16/1), Flying Fletcher (18/1), Mostar Dreams (20/1), Tolstoy (22/1), Dragon Of Malta (22/1), Eminency (25/1), Edgewater Drive (33/1), United Approach (33/1), Zowal (40/1), Blazing Son (50/1), La Ferveur (80/1)

Granted suitable conditions (probably wouldn't want ground slower than good to soft), TALIS EVOLVERE may well deliver now eased in grade with highly promising and in-form apprentice Toby Moore doing the steering. He pulled clear of the rest when chasing home a progressive 3-y-o from the William Haggas yard at Haydock last time and a reproduction of that would probably suffice. Irish raider Dragon of Malta is next on the list, while Flag of St George is one of several others to consider.