Harfdecent looks well handicapped

Harfdecent can live up to his name by beating a quality field for today's "Showcase" race, the Mitsubishi Shogun Trophy at Doncaster. The Mary Reveley-trained eight-year-old is a course and distance winner and runs off bottom weight of 10st.

He had been a little disappointing and had had some bad luck until he finally got his act together to open his account over fences at the Town Moor track last month.

Given a patient ride by Peter Niven, Harfdecent was produced to join the leaders at the first fence in the straight before going on two out and coming home 12 lengths clear of Jason's Boy.

Although today's opposition is stronger, Harfdecent looks well handicapped and is open to further improvement.

Martell Grand National candidate Baronet can boost his Aintree claims with victory in the Pertemps Grimthorpe Chase.

The David Nicholson-trained gelding is an out-and-out stayer with victories in the Scottish Grand National and the four-mile-one-furlong Miles Gosling Handicap Chase at Cheltenham to his credit.

The latter win came on his most recent outing on New Year's Day when he stayed on dourly to beat Him Of Praise by one and three-quarter lengths.

Baronet has been trained with an eye on the big staying prizes this spring and although today's three and a quarter miles is short of his best this tough performer can prove too strong for his rivals.

Goodtime George has been out of action since a nine-length win over Supreme Day on this course in January but can make a winning return to the track in the Pardubice Handicap Hurdle.

The ex-Irish Rash Remark bolted up by a distance at Haydock last Saturday on his debut for Martin Pipe and is very difficult to oppose in the Robert Irons 30th Birthday Novices' Hurdle at Newbury.

Pipe can also strike with French import Gris d'Estruval in the Jack O'Newbury Novices' Chase.

A winner three times over fences in his native country, Gris d'Estruval ran the smart Rockforce to four lengths at Ascot two weeks ago and has less to do here.

Careysville was an expensive failure behind Zaggy Lane at Taunton in January but had earlier looked impressive when beating Scavo at Folkestone. The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old is worth another chance in the Berkshire Handicap Chase.

Mystic Isle is being aimed at the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter later this month and can pick up the Crudwell Cup at Warwick on his way. Nick Gaselee's chaser made a winning return to action at Folkestone in January after a nine-month absence.

Jumping better than on previous occasions, the gelding led three out and kept on strongly to beat Selatan by five lengths. That race will have boosted Mystic Isle's confidence and he can follow up.

After wins at Lingfield at Wolverhampton, Love Blues can complete a hat-trick at the latter track in the Colin And Doreen Salter Ruby Wedding Handicap.