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The Betchworth Kid Primed for November Handicap Glory at Doncaster 05/11/08

Doncaster plays host to the finale of the Flat season on Saturday, November 8, when the highlight of a superb seven-race card will be the £85,000 £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap (3.10pm).

Owner and syndicate manager Henry Ponsonby sees the 12-furlong contest as an ideal opportunity for The Betchworth Kid, who proved a liking for Town Moor when winning the Ladbrokes Mallard Handicap over an extended 14 furlongs at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival on September 12.

The Michael Bell-trained three-year-old, a 12/1 shot with totesport, returns to handicap company following a creditable third on good to firm ground in a Listed contest at Newmarket on October 2, and Ponsonby is looking to see an improved performance from the gelding on a softer surface.

Ponsonby commented: “The Betchworth Kid will take his chance in the £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap and it has been the plan for the past few weeks. He found the ground too fast on his latest start at Newmarket but, on softer going, he’s a very, very good horse and I think that he will take the world of beating.

“He’s got some top-class form over similar distances. He finished second to Inventor over an extended 11 furlongs and finished third over a mile and a half in a very hot handicap at Haydock and in the Tradesman’s Derby at Musselburgh. Any reproduction of those efforts will see him finish in the first four.

“The more rain the better for him and we go there full of optimism.”

Ponsonby could also be represented in the £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap by the Alan King-trained Spring Dream, who notched an impressive victory on her latest start in a fillies’ handicap at Newmarket on October 31. The five-year-old mare is currently a 25/1 chance with totesport.

Ponsonby continued: “I think that Spring Dream might get eliminated but she would be another who could run well if she was given the chance. She’s only finished out of the first two on one of her starts this season when she was beaten by four and a half lengths in a valuable Ascot handicap.

“She won a decent handicap at Newmarket and she obviously goes well with some give in the ground. She would be receiving weight from most of these if she got into the November Handicap and she’s a very good filly.”

Trainer Clive Cox is also targeting £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap with the progressive Electrolyser, who has yet to finish out of the first two in four career starts and is currently 8/1 second favourite for Doncaster glory with totesport.

The lightly-raced three-year-old colt comes into the race on the back of a pleasing victory in a Leicester handicap on his first start over 12-furlongs and Cox is confident that his charge will continue to improve on only his third appearance in handicap company.

The Lambourn-based handler: “We’ve entered Electrolyser in the £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap and it’s very much the plan for him to run in the race. He’s in very good form and I have been very pleased with his work since his last success.

“We need a couple of horses to come out of the race before we get in but I think that will happen and we are quite excited about his chances.

“I am pleased with the progress he has made throughout this season. He’s quite lightly raced in comparison to some of the other horses entered but I don’t think it will be a problem. Pippa Greene won the same Leicester race as Electrolyser last season and she had a similar profile when she was sent off favourite for last year’s November Handicap.

“He’s definitely progressive and he’s going there in excellent form. There was plenty of give in the give in the ground at Leicester and I think he’s a better on a softer surface. I am confident that he will give a good account of himself.”

The £2 Million totescoop6 November Handicap looks set to be another fascinating renewal, with 54 horses entered. Race sponsor totesport currently has the Luca Cumani-trained Presvis, who was a comprehensive seven-length winner of a Newbury handicap on his latest start, as the 4/1 market leader, with Magicalmysterytour, successful in the Keepmoat Stakes at the Ladbrokes St Leger Meeting, an 11/1 chance behind Electrolyser. The progressive Blimey O’Riley, First Avenue, Merchant Of Dubai, Night Crescendo, Tropical Strait, and Young Mick are all rated as 12/1 shots alongside The Betchworth Kid.