Although Martin Pipe's Victor Argosy has an absence of nearly three years to overcome, he's the most interesting runner in the National Custom And Sports Car Show Handicap over three miles at Doncaster this afternoon.

The ten-year-old hasn't been seen since beating a subsequent winner over this trip on a sound surface in May 2002 in his native New Zealand. But Pipe can be relied upon to have him fully wound up on his first start in this country and, in a race where there are question marks about the majority, he's taken to beat Family Venture, who has been running creditably of late.

Pipe and Timmy Murphy can also be on the mark with Honan in the Old Comrades Racing Pigeon Show Handicap hurdle over the extended two miles and three furlongs.

The six-year-old has plenty of room for further improvement and did well under an inexperienced rider when second on soft ground at Leicester over two miles on his latest start.

Given he's already won his bumper on a sound surface today's conditions aren't a worry and he shaped that day as though the return to this longer trip is going to be very much in his favour.

Murphy has prospects aboard Anshabil in the Civil Marriage Ceremony Venue Novices Hurdle but preference is for James Fanshawe's Reveillez, who created a favourable impression when successful on his hurdles debut.

This useful Flat performer won with plenty in hand at Windsor on that occasion (in November) and he's another that won't mind the quicker conditions this time. He's open to a good deal of improvement in this sphere.

With Richard Guest's horses in such good form, York Rite looks the one to be on after a short break in the Bradford Small Livestock Show Novices Handicap Chase over two miles.

Although yet to win over fences he's shown enough in his last two starts behind a progressive type to suggest he has fair claims here under suitable conditions. He's taken to beat Angel Delight.

At Wolverhampton Fiddlers Creek is interesting, despite the drop in trip, in the Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Handicap over the extended mile. Dick Allan's gelding has won over middle distances but showed he had the foot to cope with a drop in trip when smoothly winning over nine furlongs on his first run on this new surface last time.

Although up in the weights and in grade, he may be a bit better than the handicapper has been able to rate him and it'll be no surprise to see him give a good account in this competitive race.

Truckle impressed with the way he travelled before winning over nine furlongs at this course last time and he can follow up over the same course and distance in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.

A three pound rise for that win looks fairly lenient for Chris Fairhurst's progressive sort and, given that was only his fifth career start, he's almost certainly capable of further improvement.

l Sweet Kiln put up a gutsy performance to get the better of Carraig Blue in the Mulhaddart Novice Hurdle after a dour struggle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

The James Bowe-trained mare looked beaten when a length down jumping the last but she got up in the last 50 yards under Gary Hutchinson to deny Carraig Blue by a length.

Willie Mullins' Our Ben, the even-money favourite, could never get in a blow and was a well-beaten third.

The first two fought out a tremendous battle over three miles in the testing conditions with Sweet Kiln leading her rival by two lengths in the early stages.

Carraig Blue went on a mile out but he could not shake off Sweet Kiln (11-8), who showed she stayed three miles well on her first attempt at the trip.

''We know she stays now and it was nice to see her get her head in front,'' said Michael Bowe, son and assistant to his father.

''She loves that ground, which is typical of all our horses. She'll go for the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown early next month.

"We're not thinking any further than that at the moment."

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