THERE might well be a classic case of dj vu on the opening day of the Flat turf season at Doncaster this afternoon since both Middlethorpe and Dandoun have an outstanding chances of repeating their respective victories on the card 12 months ago.

Middlethorpe's trainer Mick Easterby has kept his charge busy over hurdles during the winter months, winning in great style over the sticks at Wetherby three weeks ago. No worries therefore on the score of fitness and considering Middlethorpe (1.45) took the Racing Schools Apprentice Handicap off an identical mark of 65 in 2002, there appears to be no sensible reason why he cannot do it all over again.

While John Dunlop's classy colt Dandoun hasn't been hurdling, the same scenario applies in his attempt to secure the Listed Doncaster Mile for the second season in succession.

Dunlop's team invariably come out of the blocks all guns blazing in the spring and Dandoun (3.55), due to be ridden by Kieren Fallon, looks an absolute banker bet in the £32,000 contest.

Michael Dods gives his Ayr Silver Cup hero John O'Groats a spin out in the £20,000 Go Racing In Yorkshire Handicap Showcase Handicap.

The five-year-old sprinter starts his campaign on a 13lb higher rating this time round, however he's clearly improving, has gone well when fresh in the past and might be worth a small each-way saver.

Lingfield's Polytrack weekend fixture robbed the Town Moor of staging the inaugural two-year-old race off 2003, but the Brocklesby has lost little of its appeal as a first "sighter" of juveniles racing against each other on the grass.

Anyone having a serious wager on thoroughbreds' babies at this juncture is badly in need of psychotherapy, but a selection must be made and according to the southern vibes the Barry Hills-trained Lambourn raider, Farewell To Arms (2.15), is quite a sharp sort.

The sole National Hunt fixture of the day takes place at Wincanton, where one of the most consistent mares currently in training, Madame Flora (2.05), is expected to oblige in the opener.

* Richard Lee's ''trade secret'' for curing horses with problems bursting blood vessels is bearing fruit with El Bandito, who easily landed the Letheby & Christopher Novices' Handicap Chase at Chepstow yesterday.

The nine-year-old hit the front at the third last fence in the hands of conditional jockey Alan O'Keeffe to score in emphatic style by 26 lengths from Kingston-Banker.

Dollar Law opened his jumping account in the Western Daily Press Novices' Hurdle.

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