The event even has a 'consolation race' which begins the programme but it's strange to see what is regarded as a major six furlongs handicap staged on a racecourse that doesn't have a track over that distance.

It would have been much better if the race had been kept for Yorkshire racegoers, especially as there hasn't been a meeting in the county since Tuesday and there's none on the flat until Redcar next Friday.

Many of the entries ran in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in which Hogmaneigh led home River Falcon and Siren's Gift with the speedy Cheveton back in fifth. The winner is probably best over the extra furlong as is the runner-up and it's Siren's Gift who could come out best this time.

Andrew Balding's filly hasn't won anywhere near enough races that her talent deserves. She led at the halfway stage in the Portland but was swallowed up close to home by the front pair and is definitely better over the minimum trip.

Young David Probert, who is having a monumental battle with William Buick at the head of the apprentice jockeys table, can claim 5lbs off the filly here and, provided the ground doesn't come up heavy, she has the pace to see off the late challengers.

There's a fine card at Ascot although it suffers somewhat from being in the middle of brilliant weekends at Longchamp and Newmarket (next Saturday).

Young Mick is one of those exasperating horses that usually finds trouble in-running as he did in a similar race on the track last time when runner-up to Night Crescendo.

Robert Winston endured a nightmare ride that day and Ryan Moore takes over this time, but George Margerson's stable star has made monkeys out of many jockeys in his time due to his habit of getting trapped in a pocket.

The winner, third-placed Drill Sergeant and the fourth Pevensey all meet again and don't be surprised at a big run from the latter who John Quinn will have at his peak.

But hopefully Young Mick will get a clear sight of the winning line this time.

Many Natinal Hunt enthusiasts view today's Chepstow card as the first sign that winter is on the way and, as usual, the big guns are out in force at the Welsh track.

The Realtime Radio At williamhill.co.uk Handicap Hurdle has produced some decent performers over the years in its former guise as the Free Handicap Hurdle and it's attracted another strong line-up this afternoon.

Five Dream and Super Formen represent Chepstow's leading trainer Paul Nicholls, responsible for last year's winner Gwanako.

And Emma Lavelle's Crack Away Jack has his first start since landing a Listed event at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

But the top weight may be worth opposing with Alan King's Squadron, who is the type to do better this season and enjoys a massive 29lbs turnaround in the weights than when beaten by seven lengths by Crack Away Jack at Sandown in February.

Bangor is also being covered by Channel 4 and John Quinn's Holiday Cocktail looks an interesting entry in the Numark Handicap Hurdle.

The Settrington handler has teamed up with Dougie Costello to land the last two runnings of this contest and a hat-trick is very much on the cards with this son of Mister Baileys, who did well in his first season over timber and was a much-improved sort on the Flat this year, winning three times at Pontefract and once at Redcar.