Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes go all the way
Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes begin the final day of the Flat turf season still separated by just two winners.
Hanagan had stretched his lead to four after riding a double at Southwell’s afternoon fixture and then Hughes and Hanagan swapped winners during the evening card under the floodlights at Wolverhampton that left Hanagan on 191 with Hughes on 189.
Both jockeys have rides in the feature race on the programme at Doncaster, the totesport.com November Handicap, but it could be 5lb claimer Martin Harley who takes the prize on the Alan King-trained Solden Licht.
He finished fifth in the race 12 months ago - when trained by James Eustace – and then switched to King as a novice hurdler, winning two from four starts. However he is still clearly improving on the Flat as evidenced by winning over course and distance a fortnight ago.
That was Solden Licht’s first run for six months so he could be expected to come on from that, which may well counter a 7lb rise in the handicap, and his rider’s claim may just tip matters in their favour.
The ground is going to be testing at Doncaster which should suit R Woody in the Listed totesport.com Wentworth Stakes. The gelding has been improving through the summer and looks to have handled soft ground when winning a handicap at Newmarket. This is a step up in class but very few of the older horses in the race could be said to be on an upward curve at present.
The Grade Two totescoop6 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton will not lack for pace but there has to be a chance that frontrunners Australia Day, Black Jack Blues and Barizan will set the race up for another horse and that could well be Nearby, who goes for the hat-trick after wins at Bangor and Aintree.
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