Lord Melbourne caps standout season for Ralph Beckett in November Handicap - but trainer hits out at winning purse

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Ralph Beckett had one last hurrah in his season of all seasons with Lord Melbourne in the Virgin Bet November Handicap, but criticised how little the winning prize had risen since he won the race 19 years ago.

Beckett struck in the final fling of Britain's Flat turf season in 2005 with Come On Jonny and did so again when the 14-1 shot Lord Melbourne weaved his way through the field under Jack Doughty. He also saddled the fifth home in 5-2 favourite Valvano.

The trainer has won the likes of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Irish Oaks, Pretty Polly Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint during an outstanding campaign and despite the size of the purse, he was still delighted to end the campaign on a high.

"Do you know what this race was worth when I won it 19 years ago? Just over £34,000 and it's just over £36,000 to the winner now. That's a damning indictment isn't it?" he said. "Anyway, it was lovely to win it again.

"This and the Lincoln are the two races I want to win as I'm only from down the road. I'll hopefully get there in the Lincoln one day."

Lord Melbourne was a notable winner for Jack Doughty, who enjoyed his own fine season having finished fourth in the apprentice jockeys' championship.

Beckett added: "Jack gave him a lovely ride. He's a push-button ride and didn't really travel, but Jack kept him in the hunt and kept on finding."

Excellent Estrange

Estrange bounced back to her best in the Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes and left her connections already dreaming of big-race glory in Britain and beyond next year.

The three-year-old went into plenty of notebooks for her effortless win in a soft-ground maiden at Goodwood in August, and she thrived in testing conditions again when scoring by a length and three-quarters under James Doyle.

Matthew Sigsworth, representing owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "She's always had a lot of ability and it didn't really work out at Yarmouth last time as she got behind a wall of horses and it was a little bit quick.

"We'd been waiting for this race on easier ground over an ideal trip. She's still learning and will be a better filly next year."

He added: "Hopefully it's Group races next year. She'll get a good winter under her belt and come back next spring. She's only going to get better, that's for sure."

Room Service delivers

Doncaster brings out the best in Room Service, who delivered in lucrative fashion again in the Wentworth Stakes.

The Kevin Ryan-trained three-year-old scooped £147,540 when landing the valuable two-year-old sales race at the St Leger meeting last year and struck at Listed level for the first time on his return to South Yorkshire.

Ryan said: "There's a Listed race at Newcastle next week [Golden Rose Stakes], but that wouldn't have suited him, so we took a punt here. We corrected a wind issue, but he's still quite raw and he's a very good horse. You'd imagine he'll do plenty strength-wise as we know he's got the engine."

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