Grab a beer and settle in for top jumps action as Flat has last hurrah

The phoney war has been ongoing for the past few weeks, but Saturday marks the official passing of the torch.

On a day that could have music-oriented racing fans humming 'hello, goodbye' tunes from The Beatles or Soft Cell, the British Flat season's final meeting takes place at Doncaster as the jumps season moves front and centre.

A quartet of jumps meetings compared to the November Handicap fixture at Town Moor illustrates the shift in focus, with Wincanton's popular Badger beers card the highlight of the afternoon and the JP McManus-owned Unowhatimeanharry arguably the biggest name as he reappears at Aintree.

Paddy Brennan was dealt a blow earlier in the week when losing the ride on the hugely popular Cue Cardin the Betfair Chase, but owner Jean Bishop has kept him aboard Theatre Guide for the Badger Ales Trophy.

The topweight is one of two chances for Colin Tizzard, who won the race last year with Gentleman Jon, while Brennan's replacement on Cue Card, Harry Cobden, is also in action in the contest, riding the promising Mr Mix for boss Paul Nicholls.

Sport often writes its own scripts, so what odds Theatre Guide and Mr Mix duel out the finish?

Elite chaser back hurdling

The Elite Hurdle is one of the other highlights on Wincanton's card, with Charbel – whose fall in the Racing Post Arkle at Cheltenham last season led to many a 'what if' – making his seasonal return for Kim Bailey.

The 'Rising Stars' Novices' Chase may have attracted only three runners but there may well be a star among the trio, with Modus having his second start over fences.

He was a more than capable hurdler, winning the Lanzarote last season, and made a successful start to chasing at Bangor last month.

Harry angel?

The 188Bet-backed conditions hurdle at Aintree also drew just three declarations, led by Unowhatimeanharry, who signed off last season by winning the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown, having finished third in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham when odds-on.

It is early days but he is vying for ante-post favouritism for the 2018 championship stayers' race at Cheltenham at around 6-1 with Nichols Canyon, and there will be stacks of interest in how he shapes on his return against the high-class Top Notch, who was novice chasing last season, and Value At Risk, who represents jumps trainers' title hare Dan Skelton.

Sheikh Mohammed with daughter Sheikha Jalila and son Sheikh Zayed

Historic colours could be in line for victory

Before the Flat turf ends there is the small matter of the Betfred November Handicap, which offers the chance for some famous colours to adorn the winner's enclosure.

Earlier in the season Sheikh Mohammed reintroduced his famous maroon and white silks, synonymous with so many memorable and loved big-race winners. Oh So Sharp, Pebbles and Singspiel were just three of the many stars to carry them.

Royal Line has been the main flagbearer in 2017 with two wins from three starts, and he receives the chance to deliver a third November Handicap in the last nine years for trainer John Gosden.

The colt lost his unbeaten record at Newbury last time, but that was only his third start and he is the most unexposed runner in the 23-strong field.

Librisa Breeze: loved soft ground when he won at the meeting last yearCredit: Charlie Crowhurst

Niblawi to give Bloom more sporting success?

It has been continued success on and off the pitch for Brighton chairman and racehorse owner Tony Bloom, with a Cesarewitch and Champions Sprint brace achieved in a glorious seven days last month.

With Brighton riding high in the Premier League in eighth, it has been an awesome autumn for Bloom, and he has the chance for another big prize as Niblawi represents him in the November Handicap.

The five-year-old is yet to hit the target since joining Neil Mulholland but would be dangerous to discount, with promising apprentice Jack Osborn aboard.

Tyler Saunders, like Osborn, is an apprentice with a bright future and he too has the chance to ride a big winner on another leading fancy, Dance The Dream.

They will be hoping to emulate George Wood, who was victorious in the race last year on Prize Money when still claiming 5lb.

A chaser to get your teeth into

'Super Sunday' is absent for football fans this weekend due to the international break, but for anyone making their way to Sandown the phrase will still resonate, with Might Bite returning to action.

The RSA and Mildmay Novices' Chase winner is one of the most exciting jumpers in training, but as so often seems the case with the supremely talented there is a hint of madness in the eight-year-old.

He has nearly thrown away two races at Cheltenham, notably the RSA, but when staying straight and true his class is there for all to see, and he could make it to the very top of the chasing tree.

Sterner tests will await than Sunday's Listed chase at Sandown, but it will be fascinating to see if some of his kinks have been ironed out, with trainer Nicky Henderson of the opinion the mercurial talent "just needs minding a little".

Nitwit or not, who doesn't like fools and horses and the changing of the seasons?

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