More N.H. racing at Doncaster, Lingfield and Fairyhouse (Ireland)

There are 3 hot handicaps at Doncaster today with big fields and very open betting, but the most interesting races could be the 3 novice hurdles that open the card. In the first division of the 2 miles race at 13.00 CET there are several useful ex-flat horses engaged, notably Ostland (Charlie Longsdon/ Richard McGrath), who was runner-up in the German Derby last year. He has been gelded since being sold to his present connections and should run well.

In the second division an hour later there is an even higher-profile entry, Cesare (James Fanshawe/ Paul Moloney), a genuine Group One class miler, who was runner-up in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot less than 6 months ago. If he takes well to hurdling, he ought to win this. In between,Possol (Henry Daly/ Richard Johnson) looks a good thing in the stayers race at 13.30. Tony McCoy is in action at Lingfield, where there is only a tiny field for the main event, a Grade Two novice chase at 15.00. He can win this on Nicky Henderson´s Burton Port, who holds Massasoit (Paul Nicholls/ Christian Williams) on earlier form.

McCoy also has decent chnces on Open Day at 13.20 and Soprano at 13.55. both for Jonjo O´Neill. Davy Russell looks the jockey to follow at the Irish meeting at Fairyhouse, where Mrs. Dobbs´ Farringdon at 14.40, Paul Nolan´s Clan Tara at 15.15 and Arthur Moore´s Native Clan at 15.50 all appear to have good prospects.