RACING/British Preview: Pat Eddery can continue his fine start to the Flat season by booting home Faithful Warrior in the randombet.com Lincoln at Doncaster today.
The former champion jockey began his 36th season in style recording a double on Doncaster's opening day and can land the first major handicap of the campaign on board the four-year-old.
The Diesis colt landed a trio of successes last season, winning at Sandown in June, Pontefract in August and at Chester in September, before putting a good effort in defeat when ninth behind I Cried For You in the Cambridgeshire in his final outing.
That was over a mile and a furlong at Newmarket but Barry Hills' charge looks to be better over a mile so today's trip should be right up his street.
Hills has a good record on Town Moor.
Indeed, it was after landing a betting coup on the Lincoln that he managed to finance the start of his illustrious training career.
Everything, therefore, points towards a strong performance from Faithful Warrior who should also have underfoot conditions to his liking and he warrants the nap vote to come home ahead of Banjo Bay and all-weather revelation Adiemus.
Hills will also have high hopes of scoring with Rainbow High in the Konica East Doncaster Shield (Conditions Stakes).
However, the Farringdon Place inmate may have to settle for second best behind the Mark Johnston-trained Double Honour.
Orientor represented trainer Jim Goldie in some style last season and can pick up some decent prizes again this term beginning with the Listed Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs.
The campaign began with a Redcar maiden success and the Inchinor colt built on that victory by landing a pair of valuable handicaps and being placed in Listed and Group company.
Orientor needs to be held up but if he repeats his performance in York's William Hill Trophy (Handicap) at York when he simply flew home to deny Armagnac in the shadow of the post then he will be hard to beat over his best trip today.
Ferdie Murphy sends Luzcadou to contest Newbury's Stan James Telebetting Handicap Chase and the nine-year-old can return to Yorkshire with the prize in safekeeping.
Although having unseated and fallen the last two times he still represents outstanding value.
Glitter Isle will bid to repeat his success of last year in Fontwell's Hasseroder Southern National Handicap Chase.
However, Josh Gifford's charge may this time have to settle for second best behind Choisty who got back to winning ways last time out.