Racing: Follow the Leader in Flat finale

As handovers go, it is almost flawless, with only the prospect of Folkestone's irritating and awful Flat card on Monday to spoil the occasion this afternoon as the baton passes from the summer to the winter code. In spirit at least, the 1996 campaign on the level ends with the November Handicap card at Doncaster while at all points north, south and west there are meetings to remind us of what there is to look forward to on the road to Cheltenham in March. For betting-shop punters in particular, there can be few better Saturday afternoons all year.

While Chepstow, Wincanton, Newcastle and Uttoxeter all have much to recommend them, the first port of call for most punters this morning will be the November Handicap, which with its 24 tightly handicapped runners is no less competitive than the Lincoln Handicap which launched the season at the same course eight months ago. That race, in case anyone has forgotten, was won by a 33-1 chance, and while Kutta seems sure to start a warm favourite for today's feature at around 7-2, he has had two hard races in recent weeks and makes little appeal at such odds.

Clifton Fox, the Cambridgeshire winner, will be another popular choice, but since Jeremy Glover, his trainer, has stated that he is not sure that his runner will stay today's trip, particularly on the rain-softened ground, it is difficult to back him with confidence. More interesting is Dato Star, still a maiden on the Flat proper but winner of the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham in 1995. Runner-up to Snow Princess in this race last year with the remainder well beaten, he seems sure to go close again off a 5lb higher mark.

On a simple point of value, however, it is difficult to ignore a horse who returned to his best form when winning his last race and will be ideally suited by today's trip, going and the expected strong pace. Shadow Leader (3.30), available at 20-1 this morning, has struggled this season to reproduce the form which carried him into third place in last year's Bessborough at Royal Ascot, but his defeat of Polydamas at the same track last month implied that Charlie Egerton has rekindled his old ability. If so, 20- 1 will look a very big price at 3.35 today.

The remainder of the Doncaster card lost some of its interest when Russian Snows won the 2.30 at Town Moor yesterday to finally decide the trainers' championship in favour of Saeed bin Suroor and the Godolphin operation. The stayers' handicap which closes the card deserves close inspection, though, and while Orchestra Stall may start favourite, his huge burden will leave him open to attack from Sweetness Herself (next best 4.05), who can complete a five-timer. Key To My Heart (2.55) looks the best choice in the Serlby Stakes.

At Chepstow, Castle Sweep is one to oppose at short odds in the Tote Silver Trophy since his jumping often deteriorates under pressure. JET RULES (nap 1.45), who started favourite for last season's Sun Alliance Hurdle, has everything in his favour today and can exploit the 8lb he receives from the favourite.

Newlands-General (1.15) must also go well at the Welsh course while the eagerly awaited chase debut of See More Business should be a winning one, though it is unlikely to be worth betting on. The same comment applies to Coome Hill, who brings enormous promise from the hunter-chase field to Wincanton's Badger Beer Chase (3.10), but does so, unfortunately, with his amateur jockey still attached. Hard To Figure, one of the best sprint handicappers of recent years, makes his hurdling debut at the age of 10 in the Elite Hurdle, but Irish raider Space Trucker (3.45) is a better bet against the likely favourite Mistinguett.

Elsewhere, betting-shop punters can enjoy the Ekbalco Hurdle at Newcastle while the recent Cesarewitch winner Inchcailloch contests a handicap chase at Sandown and Jack Tanner, expected to be one of the year's best novice hurdlers, is in action at Uttoxeter. In Ireland, Danoli should stroll home in his second novice chase at Naas today while Klairon Davies, the Champion Chase winner, reappears against two rivals at Leopardstown tomorrow.