Totesport.com November Classic

The totesport.com November Handicap hasn't generally been an end-of-season target for an inmate form the Freemason Lodge stable at which Sir Michael Stoute pulls the strings. However, in Book Of Music the Newmarket-based handler appears to have a potential blot on the handicap, so the 5/1 on offer with Blue Square should be snapped up. The son of Sadler's Wells clearly appreciates juice in the ground as both of his career victories have been gained on an easy surface, so the easy surface at Windsor, which is staging this race while redevelopment work continues at Doncaster, will be right up his street. It is significant that Stoute thought Book Of Music good enough to have him entered in Pattern races at the beginning of the season, and the three-year-old was well supported ahead of the Ebor at York in August, but narrowly missed the cut for that contest. Lightly raced with just six starts under his belt, the selection had the perfect prep for this test when running on in good style to get the better of Great Plains and Illustrious Blue in a competitive heat at Ascot, for which he has been raised just 2lb, which looks extremely lenient given the quality of that race. The handicapper probably took the view that, since the first six were covered by little more than a length and a half, the form was nothing to get excited about. However, there was a lot to like about Book Of Music's performance, and now that he steps up to a mile and a half, there is likely to be more to come from the colt, who has the assistance of champion jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle. Joint market leader Scriptwriter is similarly unexposed and, as with any horse representing the in-form Godolphin yard, he's well worth a second look. Although raised 6lb for winning a race nowhere near as strong as this at York last time, it should be remembered that the four-year-old was having his first outing for 15 months, and just the fifth of his career. Saeed bin Suroor's charge, who is joined in this race by stablemate Red Admiral, proved on the Knavesmire that he relishes cut in the ground and, therefore, there's far more pluses against his name than minuses. He's a live danger. Group Captain is weighed to beat Peppertree Lane based on when they finished second and third respectively behind Pevensey at Ascot in September. Roger Charlton's charge finished a short head in advance of Peppertree Lane yet meets that rival on 8lb better terms this time. Group Captain is still 11lb higher than for his last win and doesn't always finish as well as seems likely in his races, whereas Peppertree Lane, who has gone onto win subsequently at that Berkshire venue, is a tough cookie. But this track isn't likely to play to the strengths of Peppertree Lane, whose forte is stamina, so I can definitely envisage Group Captain finishing in front of him. Outside of this quartet, the remainder appear to have each-way claims at best. Last year's hero Come On Jonny is 8lb higher this time, has only had won run since, and would prefer more testing conditions, while the likes of Beau Nash and St Savarin are decent in their own right, but are probably just a tad below this level. Verdict: 2pts Book Of Music @ 5/1