Connections of Onesmoothoperator made the most of the November Handicap being moved to Newcastle’s all-weather surface when the Brian Ellison-trained gelding scored in the valuable staying prize.
The staying handicap prize was switched to Newcastle's all-weather surface with Doncaster's track being unraceable due to flooding, a move that prompted Brian Ellison to enter Onesmoothoperator, who would not have run if the contest was run on turf.
It proved a shrewd entry by the Malton-based handler, with Onesmoothoperator sneaking through against the often favoured inside rail to enter the reckoning inside the final furlong.
The five-year-old set down to battle it out with the Charlie Johnston-trained Sruth and although the latter battled on all the way to the line, it was Onesmoothoperator [15/2] who was always just doing best to score by a neck under Ben Robinson.
Ellison, who has landed the prize three times now, said "We weren't even going to run him in it until it got switched to here, we were going to take him to Sedgefield for a novice hurdle!
"We bought him to go hurdling. This has been a lucky race for me, I've won it three times now.
"He likes it here, though, he needs them to go a strong gallop and he got a brilliant ride. He made his move around the top bend, and you know you have to be up the rail.
"I think the horse has deserved a big one because he's a funny one, you have to ride him for luck. Luckily enough today they got racing early and it all worked out.
"More than likely we'll still go hurdling but he must have good ground. He's an absolutely brilliant jumper.
"We've run him once over hurdles, but they absolutely walked round and that was no good to him, he finished second. We might give him a pop just for a change. We'll see what's around."
