MANA D'ARGENT (1.15) makes a rapid reappearance at Doncaster this afternoon, hard-on-the-heels of a promising Musselburgh third placing to stable-mate Swift Sailor last Sunday.

Mark Johnston's eight-year-old has dropped a few pounds in the weights, a factor not lost on his astute trainer, who has wasted little time sending the well-handicapped Middleham raider back to the well.

Although Joe Fanning's mount was staying on strongly behind Swift Sailor at the Scottish track, he never managed to land a telling blow over the 1-mile trip.

Like most of us, Mana d'Argent is in all probability getting a shade slower in his old age, so the extra four furlongs he has to travel for the opening Yorkshire Season Ticket Handicap will likely be greatly to his advantage.

In the Stanleybet Spring Mile, Racing North ten-to-follow pick, Up Tempo (2.20), gets the nod, despite never having won over a distance of one mile.

Kevin Ryan's gelding is fully race-fit after three spins on the all-weather circuit, which included an impressive success at Wolverhampton over 7.1 furlongs last October.

Up Tempo is an extremely versatile campaigner and the small step-up in trip should not present any real problems for the consistent seven-year-old, who possesses a very nifty turn of foot when in the mood.

Rather surprisingly several of the big-name jockeys give Doncaster a swerve in favour of less lucrative pickings at Lingfield.

Neil Callan is one of the high-profile pilots making up the list, partnering the Michael Jarvis-trained Newmarket representative, Khe Sanh (3.20), in the Carvery Handicap.

Khe Sanh only just scraped home by a neck on his track and trip debut in February, but that doesn't tell the whole story since he was badly hampered at the three-furlong pole, which caused him to lose valuable ground at a vital stage of the contest.

Darryll Holland, another of the leading lights in the weighing room, is also on duty at the Surrey venue, riding among others Wild Pitch (5.00) in the closing mile-and-a-half event.

Philip Mitchell's representative couldn't muster sufficient finishing speed to trouble the principals on his latest visit to the course, a drawback that Mitchell has addressed by upping Wild Pitch in distance by a couple of furlongs.

The Epsom handler has a good record at the track, which combined with Holland's strength in the saddle, might well enable the selection to respond by getting his head in front where it counts.

The day's sole National Hunt meeting takes place at Newbury, where Double Header (2.00) is not without a chance in the Craig & Ruth Pearman Memorial Novices Hurdle.

Even though he was sent off as a totally unconsidered 66-1 outsider at Uttoxeter a fortnight ago, Double Header ran a blinder to claim second spot in a massively competitive 17-runner contest.

It was an excellent effort, and provided Double Header reproduces that level of useful form, he looks likely to be involved in the shake-up for the extended three-mile race.

* Support for Stanleybet Lincoln favourite New Seeker strengthened yesterday following the draw ceremony for tomorrow's big handicap at Doncaster.

Clive Cox's five-year-old, winner of the Britannia Handicap and Tote International two seasons ago, is now a general 5-1 chance from 6-1 for the first leg of the ''spring double''.

New Seeker's saddle cloth number was fourth out and Timeform director Jim McGrath picked stall 21, close to the stands rail, at the ceremony when high numbers were the first to be snapped up.

Paddy Power believe a high number will prevail.

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