INNOCENT TOUCH, who will be forever remembered by his owners Nicholas Wrigley and Kevin Hart for his defeat on the Flat at Ayr in September on an otherwise momentous day for the pair, can make it two-from-two over hurdles at Doncaster this afternoon.

Trained at Malton by Richard Fahey, Innocent Touch made a successful hurdles debut at Musselburgh in the style of a horse who has more to offer in his new discipline.

The four-year-old's unplaced effort at Ayr came on a day when Wrigley, former chairman of York racecourse, and Hart enjoyed the distinction of winning with their other three 'Touch' horses at the same meeting. Another Touch and Right Touch duly obliged, but the highlight was Don't Touch, who extended his unbeaten run to five wins in no less a race than the Ayr Gold Cup. All eyes subsequently turned to Innocent Touch in the concluding handicap, but the gelding, alas, finished unplaced.

The Massarella's 'Mister Softee' Novices' Hurdle (division one) is the target for Innocent Touch this afternoon. With the in-form Brian Hughes on board, he is fancied to double his jumping tally and endear himself to his owners.

LOWCARR MOTION may prove the answer to the Cadbury Flake 99 Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

The Micky Hammon-trained five-year-old shaped well to finish fourth on his reappearance after his summer break at Wetherby four weeks ago. He will surely have benefited from that outing and is fancied to be involved in the finish today.

Malcolm Jefferson, who sent out a couple of winners at Sedgefield earlier in the week, has good prospects of clinching the feature race on the card, the £10,000 Ice Cream Direct UK Handicap Chase with ENCHANTED GARDEN.

A smart horse at his best, but one who needs decent ground, Enchanted Garden will have conditions to his liking this afternoon and although he is rising up the ratings and has top weight to carry, there was much to like about his latest win at Carlisle. He can provide Brian Hughes, rider of Innocent Touch, with another winner.

Also worth noting at Doncaster on the first leg of a two-day meeting, are HARRY HUNT (12.15), who is expected to enjoy the drier ground after looking to get bogged down at Wetherby on his latest start, and PRESENT FLIGHT (3.05), who has won two of his three starts since his summer break and who had five lengths to spare at Musselburgh on his latest start.

At Newbury, the £50,000 bet365 Open Handicap Chase takes pride of place as the richest race of the day.

This two and a half mile contest has attracted a competitive line-up and KINGS LAD makes plenty of appeal after two solid efforts this season.

Trained by the in-form Colin Tizzard, the eight-year-old finished third to Smad Place - a popular choice in tomorrow's Hennessy Gold Cup - at Kempton before chasing home Doctor Phoenix at Haydock on his latest start. That race was only a week ago and so long as Kings Lad does not feel the effects, he should go well.

Tizzard also has good prospects with ROYAL VACATION, a Wetherby winner last month, in the Inkerman London Novices' Hurdle. Paddy Brennan's mount carries the colours of Cue Card, winner of Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase before following up in last weekend's Betfair Chase at Haydock.

North Yorkshire trainer Simon West does not have many opportunities to venture south with a winning chance, but he has just that with MAXIMISER in the Fuller's London Pride Noivce Chase. Joe Collier's mount ran a blinder to finish a half-length second to Paul Nicholls' Silsol at Carlisle recently.

The nap selection is awarded to MISSED APPROACH, who promises to be well weighted in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier).

Winner of his only bumper and one of his two hurdle races last season, Missed Approach finished third to Three Muskateers in mid-winter, but was not seen out again.

He is held in high regard by trainer Warren Greatrex, who was among the Newbury winners yesterday and who runs his stable star Cole Harden on the course tomorrow.

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Today's tips: Doncaster

12.15 Harry Hunt

12.45 Lowcarr Motion

1.20 Enchanted Garden

1.55 Innocent Touch

2.30 Boston De La Roche

3.05 Present Flight

3.35 Lynda's Boy

Newbury

12.25 Kasakh Noir

12.55 Bincombe

1.30 Missed Approach (NAP)

2.05 Maximiser

2.40 Kings Lad

3.15 Royal Vacation

3.45 Alibi de Sivola