IT had already been a highly successful season for trainer David O’Meara and jockey Danny Tudhope but last Saturday it became even better as 15/2 favourite Open Eagle simply ran away with the Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster.

The five-year-old, kept wide throughout from stall 18, drew further and further clear in the final furlong and passed the post 15 lengths ahead of Aramist with long-time-leader Dashing Star and Communicator next. It was a long way back to Dark Ruler in fifth.

Open Eagle, a Montjeu gelding, finished third last year off a 5lb higher mark but it needed a 4lb penalty for a victory at Redcar last Tuesday to guarantee a run in last week’s valuable event.

Racing journalist Walter Glynn, a friend of O’Meara’s, suggested it might be a good idea to race wide and Tudhope went along with the idea.

Dashing Star led to two furlongs out but the winner was still on the bridle and cruised to the front, easily pulling clear as Alan Swinbank’s Aramist stayed on steadily in the closing stages. Swinbank was also responsible for Dark Ruler and ended up with two 20/1 shots in the first five.

“Danny executed Walter’s plan perfectly and it was a great ride,” O’Meara said. “I was worried about running again so quickly but there was nothing for him afterwards so, if he’d bombed out, he’d have had a long time to recover.”

Open Eagle had not been hidden away. Before the Redcar victory he had won at York and finished fourth over Saturday’s course and distance.

Later in the week he was reported to have joined Willie Mullins to go hurdling for the Supreme Racing Club.

There will come a time when O’Meara has plenty of pattern-class horses to go with the handicappers and his is the most progressive yard in the country at present.

He finished 10th in the trainers’ table, ahead of both Godolphin handlers, with over £1.7m in prize money. No one would bet against an even bigger haul in 2015.