Malt so sweet in November heat

With all the attention focused on title-chasing jockeys Seb Sanders and Jamie Spencer at Doncaster, the casual racegoer could be forgiven for paying the £75,000 totesport.com November Handicap little more than polite notice.

And while this year’s 12-furlong showpiece perhaps failed to attract the interest it usually does, the Richard Hannon team will not mind too much after Malt Or Mash proved one and a half lengths too good for Sanbuch.

Sent off at 5-1, the strapping grey burst into the lead at the two-furlong pole and kept up the gallop to provide the Hannon and Ryan Moore combination with a high-profile 53-1 double after Galeota scored earlier on the card.

The trainer’s son and assistant, Richard Hannon jnr, said of Malt Or Mash: “Ryan thinks he might be one of the nicest horses he has ridden out of our yard.

“He thinks he hit the front too soon last time and he probably did again.

“I was very impressed with him throughout the race and he’ll be a cracking horse for next season.

“We’ll look at some nice races and he could be a great Cup horse for next year.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the unpredictable nature of the Spencer/Sanders title fight deflected attention from the sparring duo’s respective winners.

Generous Thought (4-1 favourite) posted a taking win under Spencer in the Bet In-Play At totesport.com Nursery, while Sanders booted home Incomparable in a dramatic first division of the First Transforming Travel In Doncaster EBF Maiden.

Alan McCabe’s 11-4 chance looked booked for second before Godolphin’s Omnicat unshipped Eddie Ahern late on in the six-furlong contest.

Sanders looked like adding another vital win aboard the game Borderlescott in the Listed Wentworth Stakes – only for Moore to conjure a tremendous late run aboard Hannon’s Galeota.

Moore was never far away and got the 8-1 chance home by the narrowest of margins from the luckless Borderlescott.

Hannon jnr said: “He seems to like it here and I think he’s probably one of Ryan’s favourite horses.

“He does have an entry in Hong Kong, but that’ll probably be it for the year.

“I think he’ll be a decent sprinter next season.”

Gower Song also made a worthwhile trek north from Newmarket when winning the totesport 0800 221 221 EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes for David Elsworth.

Partnered by Richard Quinn, the 4-1 co-favourite led over a furlong out and kept responding to see off 9-2 chance Lake Toya by a head.

Peter Moore, representing winning owners Usk Valley Stud, said: “We’re thrilled to bits with that as she’d been off the track with a problem for a while before she ran at Lingfield last time.

“It’s great for the owners and a perfect way to end the season.”

The curtain was brought down on the 2007 season when the Spencer-ridden 9-4 favourite Inchnadamph routed his rivals by eight lengths and more in the totesportgames.com Handicap – ensuring the spoils were shared in an unforgettable jockeys’ championship.