Newcastle preview: Local Dynasty seeking November Handicap glory

Charlie Appleby’s Local Dynasty heads the market on his all-weather debut in the relocated Virgin Bet November Handicap.

The contest usually brings the curtain down on the turf Flat season at Doncaster, but persistent rain has left Town Moor saturated with areas of pooled water forcing a switch.

Newcastle have therefore stepped in to host the event on their all-weather track, changing the complexion of the race somewhat as entrants were likely expecting soft ground when they factored this contest into their plans.

Godolphin’s Local Dynasty heads the betting, a son of Dubawi trained by Appleby who was a Listed winner last season but is without a win this campaign, though he has been running in hot company.

The three-year-old has since been gelded and makes his first start after the procedure, with the run also his first away from the turf in his seven outings to date.

Appleby said: “Local Dynasty is a solid horse and we feel that conditions at Newcastle are there to suit.

“He ran well in two big handicaps at Royal Ascot and Newmarket earlier in the season and should be a player over this trip.”

Julie Camacho’s Beraz is also unfamiliar with the Tapeta but has figured well for his stable in four starts since leaving behind a brief hurdles career with Dan Skelton.

The winner of two Flat handicaps and second in another, Beraz seems to be on the up and the switch to Newcastle has permitted his participation as he would not have been a runner at Doncaster.

Camacho’s husband and assistant Steve Brown said: “We would not have run Beraz on heavy ground but, once the race was switched to the all-weather, we were keen to have a go.

“We are happy with where he is at the moment. He has improved all year and shown himself to be a horse with a fair level of ability.

“We have been trying to progress quietly with him and Saturday will be a bigger test. It looks a very competitive race, as you would expect, but I think we are on for a big run.”

Also running is Edward Bethell’s Chillingham, a four-year-old last seen finishing fourth in the Silver Bell at Hamilton and the runner up in the Ripon Bell-Ringer before that.

Andrew Balding has a contender in the top-weight Teumessias Fox, King Power Racing’s Lope De Vega four-year-old who has collected prize money at Group level and was most recently seen partaking in the Racing League.

George Boughey and Amo Racing are represented by Mr Alan, fifth in the turf running of this race last year and competitive in autumn handicaps this year.

William Haggas runs Laafi, Harry Eustace has entered Mustazeed and Richard Fahey will saddle Furzig, with Jim Goldie’s popular veteran Euchen Glen also running.

Sense Of Duty on retrieval mission

Sense Of Duty will return to the scene of her finest hour as she bids to end the year on a high in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Wentworth Stakes at Newcastle.

The six-furlong Listed event has been switched from its original home of Doncaster to Gosforth Park and could prove a fitting place for William Haggas’ speedster to return to winning ways having brought up a four-timer over course and distance in the Chipchase Stakes in the summer of 2022.

Injury has curtailed her progress since then, but she has graced the track twice this autumn and now drops in class having last been seen on British Champions Day in Group One sprinting action.

“She had a long break and ran well at Newbury on reappearance over an inadequate trip, but to be honest was probably a little bit disappointing at Ascot,” said Richard Brown, racing manager for owners St Albans Bloodstock.

“She was very impressive when she won the Chipchase at Newcastle so going back up there to the same course and distance, we will see if history could repeat itself.

“William’s horses are in great form and it would be great to put her away with a win under her belt.”

Nick Bradley’s syndicates have a trio of fillies entered for the race, headed by the Grant Tuer-trained Sophia’s Starlight.

The three-year-old has won four times this year and went close last time out when second in the Listed Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket in mid-October.

“Sophia’s Starlight is probably first string, we think she’s a very good filly and she’ll win a Group race, she’s one we’re excited about going forward,” said Bradley.

“At Newmarket she ran very well, she was just a bit unlucky. Had this race been on turf in heavy ground I’d have been quite bullish, obviously it’s switched but in our mind she’s still our first string.”

The Karl Burke-trained Secret Angel runs for the same ownership group, another three-year-old who finished 10th in the same race as Sophia’s Starlight last time out but has some taking form at stakes level on her CV otherwise.

“Cliff (Lee) takes the ride, she needs to put her last run behind her,” Bradley said.

“I was keen to run here as it’s her last opportunity to try to win a stakes race in the UK, I think on her best form she’d be there or thereabouts.”

Glorious Angel makes up the Bradley runners, another filly trained by Tuer and one who has been the runner up on her last three outings.

“Glorious Angel has been running really well on the heavy ground as of late, she’s a game, game filly and she tries her heart out,” the syndicate manager said.

“She’s been a bit unlucky, she’s been second three times but she’s made 30 grand in prize money so the owners aren’t complaining.

“Again, if it was on heavy ground I’d fancy her chances, she’s proven on the all-weather but I think to a slightly lower level than her heavy ground form.

“She tries her heart out and if she finishes in the first three, I’ll be buzzing.”

David O’Meara’s Aberama Gold and Hugo Palmer’s Brad The Brief are others with leading claims.