Mick Channon can crown a magnificent season by winning the final big race on the closing day of the Flat turf campaign at Doncaster tomorrow.

The West Ilsley trainer, who has come a long way since his days as a professional footballer, has saddled 140 winners this year, two more than Middleham maestro Mark Johnston, in the trainers' championship.

Flotta could be another winner for Channon in tomorrow's feature race, the £40,000 Tote November Showcase Handicap, which has a competitive line-up.

A horse in form at this time of the year is essential for this 12-furlong event. Flotta certainly fits that requirement, having won two of his last three starts.

His latest success was at Doncaster when he was confidently ridden to get the better of useful yardstick Gralmano, the winner since then of a valuable hurdle race at Wetherby.

Wunderwood, another recent winner at the course, and Royal Cavalier, winner of the November Handicap two years ago, also make appeal in this wide-open contest.

But Flotta, a horse on the upgrade, is my Nap to end the Flat turf racing season in style.

Channon has another excellent chance to shine at Doncaster tomorrow. I fancy him to succeed with Najeebon, a good winner at York last month, in the Robin Hastings Memorial Fund Apprentice Handicap.

Kieren Fallon, who will be crowned champion jockey for the sixth time, can make his mark on the card courtesy of Ashdown Express in the Mercedes Benz of Doncaster Wenworth Stakes.

The Chris Wall-trained sprinter produced a gritty performance to beat Royal Millennium and Colonel Cotton in a Group 3 race at Newmarket last time.

It would be fitting to see Pat Eddery rider a winner. The 11-times champion jockey, who retires from the saddle after tomorrow, has excellent prospects aboard Gamut in the CIU Serlby Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt has run only four times this season, but has proved himself a class act, not least when finishing second to Vinnie Roe in the Irish St Leger on his latest start.

Annie Harvey can oblige for Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart in the BOC Sureflow Nursery over seven furlongs.

The filly found the fast ground and six furlongs against her when a fast-finishing third to Enchanted in a valuable sales race at Doncaster a fortnight ago. She should go well over tomorrow's longer distance.

At Wincanton's National Hunt meeting, Jonjo O'Neill's ultra-tough Quazar promises to prove hard to beat in the K J Pike & Sons Elite Hurdle, while the in-form Penhouse Minstrel, a course and distance winner, can rack-up a hat-trick of successes by landing the Enter the £1 Million Tote Ten to Follow Novices' Handicap Chase.

Saturday's tips:

Doncaster

12.00 Najeebon 12.30 Miss Langkawi, 1.00 Dream Valley, 1.30 Coup De Chance, 2.00 Annie Harvey, 2.35 Gamut, 3.15 Flotta (Nap), 3.45 Ashdown Express.

Wincanton

12.40 Aruba Dam, 1.10 Quazar, 1.45 Penthouse Minstrel, 2.15 Stars Out Tonight, 2.45 La Luna, 3.20 Salford, 3.55 Blue Romance.

Chepstow

12.45 Comply Or Die, 1.20 Le Duc, 1.50 Ballyvaddy, 2.20 Mistanoora, 2.55 Sir Robbo, 3.30 Toi Express, 4.05 Lord Earth.

Sandown is tomorrow's other meeting.

Updated: 12:42 Friday, November 07, 2003