Castle Cove produced a textbook performance from an unfavoured draw to land the Virgin Bet November Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on the British turf Flat season with an emphatic victory for the William Haggas stable.

The 4-1 joint-favourite, ridden by Jason Hart who had earlier been confirmed as Cock 'O The North champion, overcame stall four to score by a commanding four and a quarter lengths from 33-1 outsider Miss Dolly Rocker, defying a remarkable historical trend that had seen every winner since 2007 emerge from stall eight or higher in the mile-and-a-half contest.

Hart delivered a supremely patient ride, settling Castle Cove last in the 23-runner field before threading his way through traffic in the straight. The pace-setters had cried enough when Castle Cove emerged with a furlong to run, and Hart needed only to keep his mount up to his work to cruise clear.

"Mr Haggas said if I got the first half of the race right he thought he'd have a really good chance," Hart reflected. "He switched off lovely, but at the top of the straight I did think I had a bit of ground to make up. There was a lot coming back, though, and when I switched to the outside he was always going to get there. That was really impressive and he's probably a horse who will get further next year."

The victory provided a perfect bookend to the season for Haggas and owners Jon and Julia Aisbitt, who had opened their Town Moor account with Godwinson's success in the Lincoln back in March.

Hart revealed the win carried special meaning after losing his grandfather earlier in the week. "My grandad died earlier in the week and he was probably the one, after my mum and dad, who pushed me in the racing direction. He would have been proud to see that, I hope I can keep doing him proud," he said.

The performance suggested Castle Cove may have more to offer when tackling longer trips next season. His class ultimately proved decisive in one of the Flat calendar's most historic handicaps.