PROVIDED Karl Burke has his mathematics right, Million Percent should figure prominently in the opening six-furlong Classified Stakes at Doncaster.

Following a couple of victories at Warwick and Newmarket last term, Million Percent's official rating edged up into the mid-eighties during the latter half of 2003.

The extra weight proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back and despite all of his best efforts, the game gelding could not add to his tally. They say every cloud has a silver lining, and the string of defeats that ensued at least had the beneficial effect of reducing his rating to a more realistic level.

Further encouragement for Million Percent (1.50) stems from his most recent run at Thirsk, where he finished a close-up sixth, which added to the booking of champion jockey Kieren Fallon, who gets on exceptionally well with the five-year-old, adds up to a compelling case to back Burke's banker.

The wide-open spaces of the Town Moor should prove eminently to the liking of Etmaam (4.40), a serious fancy to make it three from four in the Merlin Rover Handicap.

Mark Johnston's representative made a winning comeback at Newcastle in April and has since followed up with a last-gasp success at Bath. Etmaam required every inch of the mile-and-a-quarter at the last-named track to prevail, nailing the leader right on the wire having languished at the rear for much of the contest.

The key to riding Doncaster is to preserve enough petrol for the long and testing home straight, therefore don't expect any early fireworks from Richard Hills aboard Etmaam, not expected to appear on the scene until late on in proceedings.

By the time Etmaam gets on course, Johnston should hopefully already have hit the target with Adoration (3.30) in the Zetland Maiden Stakes.

A strapping colt by Royal Applause out of the useful mare, Unconditional Love, Adoration finished a fair third to Brecon Beacon on his debut at York. Johnston's juvenile was doing all of his best work over the final 100 yards that day and this step up to six furlongs seems ideal.

My tipping motto has always been: "better to be a lion for the day, rather than sheep all your life." So in search of a long-priced nap selection, potential outsider Tedsdale Mac (5.15) gets the nod.

Trainer Nevile Bycroft had a winner at York yesterday and with his stable firing on all cylinders, Tedsdale Mac, who often runs out-of-his-skin after a long lay-off, has the ability to defy a 206-absence from action in the Cantley Apprentice Handicap

Jump fans heading for Hexham get the opportunity to see one of our region's most prolific winners in action, Weaver George, who picked up his 21st career triumph at Southwell last Sunday.

Consett-based Wilf Storey has done a magnificent job keeping his 14-year-old veteran in one piece over the last decade, and with little of note to take him on in the Nova International Handicap Chase, Weaver George (4.15) can show he's not ready for pensioner status just yet.

Lingfield stage the sole evening meeting and the combination of substantial fields, plus hugely competitive racing, winner finding will not come easy.

My two to try to help pay the night's expenses are Redwood Star (6.40) and previous course and distance winner Goodenough Mover (7.10).

Redwood Star made a pleasing reappearance when narrowly touched off in a blanket finish at Goodwood, while Goodenough Mover, who recently made all to score at Salisbury, is almost sure to adopt the self-same tactics in his bid to follow-up in the Derek Burridge Handicap.

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