SHAKESPEAREAN can emerge a serious Classic candidate by winning a top-drawer renewal of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Although taken strictly on the ratings Mark Johnston’s colt has a bit to find with some of his rivals, especially Elusive Pimpernel, the son of Shamardal has kept producing the necessary extra all season.

Inexperience found him out in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and he still looked a little green when third in the Superlative Stakes in July.

However, Shakespearean really came of age when landing the Solario at Sandown, with runner-up Buzzword since going on to land a French Group Three and be placed at the highest level.

A gutsy success in the Goffs Million Mile followed and it is interesting that Johnston rates this horse higher than stablemate Layali Al Andalus, who was second to Racing Post Trophy favourite St Nicholas Abbey last time out in the Beresford Stakes.

Shakespearean could well go off a double-figure price and looks excellent value to keep the Group One prize in Yorkshire.

Toby Jug can take his tally to three wins from three starts for the Sarah Humphrey yard in the FJ Chalke Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Wincanton tomorrow.

A multiple point-to-point scorer in Ireland, the son of Sovereign Water won once from 17 National Hunt outings for Irish handler Michael Hourigan.

That success ironically came on British soil when he ran on powerfully to claim a novice chase over an extended three miles at Hexham in May.

He had been running consistently well in defeat all year but clearly took a significant step forward when registering a clear-cut triumph on his debut for new connections at Newton Abbot last month.

A subsequent 10-length romp at Huntingdon less than a fortnight ago marked him down as a stayer to follow and he looks up to carrying this big weight to victory.

Aintree plays host to a classy six-race card, on which Little Josh looks a fascinating contender in the Halloween At Matalan Novices’ Chase.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has not exactly had a red-hot autumn but he is far from on the cold list and Little Josh has won when fresh in the past.

A winner of two bumpers around this time last year, he then recorded two hurdle victories from four outings.