Castle Cove hunting historic Doncaster double

Castle Cove will have to defy a year long absence if he is to become the first ever dual winner of the Virgin Bet November Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained gelding was a facile winner of the traditional feature on the last day of the Flat turf season in Britain 12 months ago, but has not been seen in competitive action since.

Conditions are not quite as heavy this time around and he is 8lb higher in the weights, but he is nevertheless dangerous to dismiss.

Haggas said: “He had a bit of an accident in the spring, then he’s fine, but the ground has been too dry. It’s just been very frustrating, but he goes well fresh.

“The ground hasn’t been very soft and when you’re rated as high as him it’s not easy to find a race for them, so this is a good opportunity for him to run anyway.

“He likes a bit of cut in the ground. First time out he might be better over a bit shorter, but the ground not being so heavy will suit him. We’ll do our best.”

Richard Hughes has booked his old weighing room pal Ryan Moore for the likely favourite Nobody Knows.

He has been kept away from the quick ground all summer, but there was encouragement to be taken from his return from a six-month absence when fifth at York last month and Hughes – who also runs Circus Of Rome and Duraji – is looking forward to seeing him step up to a mile and a half for the first time.

“The plan was that Nobody Knows and Circus Of Rome were always going to run, that has been the plan a long time,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“Duraji last week had a run around Kempton and disappointed so we want to see him back on grass – we know he’s a bit better than that.

“As the year has gone on I think Nobody Knows has really shown us he’s an out-and-out mile and a half horse or even more. There are bits and bobs of his pedigree which say that is what he is going to be – a mile and half, mile and six horse – and it was a great run at York last time.”

Of his other two runners, Hughes added: “Circus Of Rome needs a good cut in the ground. He is a grand horse. He ran at Newcastle last time and I went up there and thought he would definitely win it, but he managed to give the winner 24lb and it was one of his career-best runs on ratings so maybe that wasn’t that bad a run.

“Duraji’s first run (of the year) was a huge run in the Chester Cup (third) when he nearly went and won it. We will drop him out at Doncaster and claim 5lb off him (Donagh Murphy rides) and see how he finishes. If he doesn’t run so good we will probably aim him at the Chester Cup again next year.”

Last year’s runner-up My Dollar Rocker is back again for Faye Bramley, while Ralph Beckett’s 2024 winner Lord Melbourne – only sixth 12 months ago – is another bidding for a historic second success.

Other contenders include Andrew Slattery’s Irish raider Sunchart, Patrick Neville’s runaway York winner Alfred Wincham and Ernst Blofeld, who has been placed on his last three starts for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and owners Wathnan Racing.

Richard Brown, Wathnan’s racing adviser, said: “Ernst Blofeld has enjoyed a solid season, running consistently throughout the year.

“He hasn’t encountered the type of ground he is likely to face on Saturday, but he ran well at Doncaster in the Mallard Handicap, so we know he handles the track. Hopefully, he can put in another good performance and acquit himself well.”