BEING put up for finishing second is always annoying for a horses' connections. But Toogood To Be True can defy a 3lb rise for a good run against Smith's Band at Haydock last time by lifting the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster today.

The eight year old would have missed the race had it been allowed to go ahead on its originally scheduled date in January, having sustained a foot injury.

However, he is now fighting fit and ready to claim the £30,000 added prize for his owner, Timeform boss and Channel 4 pundit Jim McGrath.

The gelding has all the right ingredients one looks for in the breed, being blessed with an abundance of talent, accompanied by a fierce will to succeed. But despite this, he is still nestling on an attractive handicap mark.

Having shown useful form over hurdles, Toogood To Be True took well to chasing last season, winning a novice chase at Doncaster and a handicap at Market Rasen and claiming place money on each of his remaining completed starts.

This term he has continued on an upward curve, landing handicaps at Wetherby in October and Warwick the following month.

However, his best performance of the current campaign came in defeat, when second to Smith's Band in the £8,000 New Year Handicap Chase at Haydock last time out.

Held up during the early stages, he made headway towards the leaders around halfway, was asked to deliver a challenge by Lorcan Wyer with four fences remaining and produced a determined effort from the second last, going under by a neck.

He has gone up 3lb for that performance but with the John Edwards trained Taramoss 25 lengths back in third, it may well be that the handicapper has been charitable.

The stamina test presented by three and a quarter miles round were is sure to bring out the best in Toogood To Be True, who hash no need for any particular type of ground.

Tim Easterby's takeover of the Habton Grange reins from his father Peter has been seamless, the only change being the name above the door, and Toogood To Be True can give Easterby the biggest success of his young career.

Go Universal, unbeaten in his six completed outings over fences, can notch win number seven in the Mitsubishi Shogun Trophy.

The Charlie Brooks trained gelding has mopped up handicap chases at Newton Abbot, Listowel, Windsor, Aintree and over this course and distance this season and the signs are that he has not stopped yet.

His six length dismissal of Bas de Laine here last time showed him to be still very much on the upgrade and he can make light of the 12st he has been allotted to carry.

At Newbury, Staunch Rival can prove too strong for his rivals in the opening Berkshire Handicap Chase.

The Graham Thorner trained bay, a winner at Taunton in October, finished a fair second to Bishops Island at Exeter last time out and goes well fresh. A break since the middle of December should have recharged his batteries.

Amateur rider Richard Hale picked up a four day whip ban after winning on 11-10 favourite Ceilidh Boy at Kelso yesterday. And the Cumbrian based pilot was not the only one to fall foul of the local stewards following the a Ship Hotel Eyemouth Amateur. Riders Handicap Chase, because Brian Hamilton, beaten a length into second place on Stop The Waller following a long slog up the extended run in, was also suspended for improper riding.

Each was found to have struck his mount with undue frequency, Hamilton was banned for three days (March 11th, 12th and 13th), and Hale's punishment takes effect on March 11th-14th inclusive.

Ceilidh Boy is trained under permit locally at Earlston by Dawn Goodfellow and she explained how she was forced to find a replacement rider for Andrew Parker who had been booked for the gelding all week.

I got a phone call from OJOCS at Newbury this morning telling me that Andrew would not be allowed to ride Ceilidh Boy."