Virgin Bet November Handicap
Doncaster 15:45
£70,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m 3f 197y, Class 2   
Saturday 8th November 2025

1 Castle Cove 4/1JF
2 Miss Dolly Rocker 33/1
3 Atherstone Warrior 11/2
4 Maxi King 18/1
22 ran NR: Great Bedwyn Distances: 4¼l, 1¾l, nk
Time: 2m 42.33s (slow by 12.63s)

William Haggas’ Castle Cove waited until the very last act of the Flat season to produce his most telling impression, sweeping from last to first with the swagger of a horse thoroughly enjoying himself.

Jason Hart rode with the patience of a man who knew exactly what he had underneath him. The 4-1 joint-favourite was parked in rear turning for home, seemingly with a mountain to climb, but Hart began to thread his way through tiring rivals as though the gaps had been pre-booked. By the time Castle Cove loomed up a furlong out, those who had been on the speed were already waving the white flag. From there, it was simply a matter of keeping him focused as he sauntered four and a quarter lengths clear of Faye Bramley’s 33-1 outsider Miss Dolly Rocker.

For Haggas and owners Jon and Julia Aisbitt, it bookended the campaign neatly – Godwinson in the Lincoln back in March and now Castle Cove on the final day in November. With Haggas celebrating from afar in Australia, the stage fell to Hart, newly crowned Cock ‘O The North, to take the spotlight in South Yorkshire.

He said: “That’s a great way to end the turf season.

“Mr Haggas said if I got the first half of the race right he thought he’d have a really good chance.

“He switched off lovely, but at the top of the straight I did think I had a bit of ground to make up. There was a lot coming back, though, and when I switched to the outside he was always going to get there.

“That was really impressive and he’s probably a horse who will get further next year.

“I’ve got a good strike-rate when I ride for Mr Haggas, but I think everyone has!”

Hart then spoke with quiet dignity about the difficult week he had endured.

“My grandad died earlier in the week and he was probably the one, after my mum and dad, who pushed me in the racing direction. He would have been proud to see that, I hope I can keep doing him proud,” said Hart.

A stirring finish to the season: a ready winner, a rider delivering under pressure, and a moment that clearly meant far more than just another success on the board.

BetPlay

November Handicap
£70,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 3f 197y, Class 2
22 ran
Going: Heavy

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4)    Castle Cove 4 8-11 William Haggas Jason Hart 4/1J
2 (17) 4¼ Miss Dolly Rocker 5 8-8 Faye Bramley George Wood 33/1
3 (3) 1¾  Atherstone Warrior 3 8-8 Gary & Josh Moore Ashley Lewis 11/2
4 (15) nk Maxi King 5 9-5 Kevin Philippart De Foy Rowan Scott 18/1
5 (9) 3¼ Stressfree 5 9-8 David O'Meara David Nolan 25/1
6 (13) hd Lord Melbourne 5 9-8 Ralph Beckett Jack Dace 8/1
7 (21) 1½ Castle Stuart 3 8-7 Richard Fahey Warren Fentiman 16/1
8 (10) 1¼ Miller Spirit 5 8-8 Gary & Josh Moore Toby Moore 16/1
9 (1) ¾ Hopewell Rock 3 9-2 George Boughey Billy Loughnane 4/1J
10 (2) 1½ Tashkhan 7 9-6 Brian Ellison Ben Robinson 66/1
11 (8) hd Hot Fuss 4 8-12 Tom Dascombe Pierre-Louis Jamin 25/1
12 (19) hd Insanity 5 9-5 Alan King Daniel Muscutt 33/1
13 (11) 1¼ Master Vintner 3 8-6 Ralph Beckett Edward Greatrex 15/2
14 (14) 2½ Adjuvant 6 8-6 Michael Bell Dylan Hogan 25/1
15 (20) 4½ Oneforthegutter 6 9-0 Ian Williams Joe Fanning 33/1
16 (18) 8½ Grey Cuban 4 9-12 Hugo Palmer Rossa Ryan 25/1
17 (5) 3¾ Metier 9 9-0 Harry Fry Nicola Burns 33/1
18 (7) 3¾ Platoon 4 9-0 Stella Barclay Robert Havlin 150/1
19 (12) nk Majestic 7 9-1 Jack Channon Rose Dawes 100/1
20 (23) 3¾ Chemistry 4 9-5 Ivan Furtado Darragh Keenan 100/1
21 (6) 5 Master Builder 4 8-8 David Menuisier P J McDonald 22/1
22 (22) 11 Tiernan 3 9-1 Iain Jardine Paul Mulrennan 25/1
NR 20 (16) Great Bedwyn 5 8-7 Richard Hannon NON RUNNER

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