Old boys light up Doncaster meeting

Such was the overnight improvement in the South Yorkshire climate that the forecast snow had failed to materialise leaving the ground in testing but excellent shape and the old lags – minimum entry age for the feature race was 10 years old – thoroughly enjoyed themselves although there was slight disappointment for the punters when Yorkshire favourite Mister McGoldrick was a non-runner.

In his absence the home baton was taken up by Aleron, the still-enthusiastic 12-year-old all-rounder from John Quinn's Malton yard, who made sure the race was run at a true pace, galloping to the front from the start and only fading when two of the race's relative youngsters took up the running on the home bend.

As Aleron paid the price for jockey Dougie Costello's admirable audacity the 10-year-olds Tamarinbleu and Chief Dan George, whose last run was beating Tidal Bay in a Grade Two hurdle race at Cheltenham, turned up the pressure alongside the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite Trabolgan.

The latter paid for mis-timing a fence as they straightened for home but the pair left in front gave every indication that they have not lost their love of the game by battling all the way to the line.

Chief Dan George, trained by Jimmy Moffatt to win over hurdles at the Aintree Festival in 2007, responded bravely to Paddy Aspell's driving and, try as Tamarinbleu might, he could not quite get to the winner, who, despite crossing the runner-up on the run-in, never looked likely to relinquish his one-length advantage.

"I took the cheek pieces off for the first time today and I don't suppose they'll be going back on any time soon," said Moffatt.

"We've had them on since Aintree and I never had the nerve to take them off. He's a funny old horse – he jumps into other horses to intimidate them a bit – but one thing I do know is that he thrives in the spring. He's entered in the William Hill at Cheltenham, the National and the Scottish National, in which he ran well for fifth last year."

Danny Cook, riding Tamarinbleu for David Pipe said: "I don't think it made too much difference that he crossed me, my lad doesn't need an excuse to not go for a gap so when it got tight, he just thought about it a bit."

Alan King looks to have shaken off his early-season problems and added another to his potential Festival team when Gilded Age won the Sportingbet.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls has nominated Ladbrokes World Hurdle favourite Big Buck's as the horse most likely to add to his impressive tally at the Cheltenham Festival this year.

The champion trainer has visited the winner's enclosure no less than 25 times at the Festival, making him second to only Nicky Henderson in the current training ranks in terms of victories, and Big Buck's is 4-7 with totesport to land the stayers' showpiece.

The seven-year-old is unbeaten over timber for Nicholls and heads back to Cheltenham to defend his crown after claiming the scalp of Punchestown last spring.

Nicholls said: "I am glad I didn't run him in the Cleeve Hurdle like last year as there was nothing to prove and he can go to Cheltenham nice and fresh.

"He looks fantastic and I have been very, very happy with his progress. Tidal Bay impressed me the other day but if our fellow runs up to his best, then he will take the world of beating.

"Both Big Buck's and Master Minded have big chances and I would say Big Buck's is my most likely winner."