Sharpastrizam is napped

BRITISH RACING: Some  competitive sport is on the cards at Doncaster today with some useful performers lining up for the action on Town Moor.

Peter Beaumont has a lively chance of getting among the winners with his consistent gelding Sharpastrizam in the novices' handicap chase.

The seven-year-old scored over two miles at Catterick last month and stayed on well to beat Mr Bossman by a length and a quarter.

He was earlier second to Damien's Choice over the same course and distance but before that won over two miles at Wetherby in November.

Admirably brave, Sharpastrizam notched up two victories at Southwell and Bangor in May.

He looks capable of turning in another good performance here.

Alexander Nevsky could hit winning form in the novices' hurdle over two and a half miles.

The six-year-old gelding, from the Nicky Henderson stable, won a bumper at Worcester on his debut and finished fourth - later promoted to third - in a bumper at Hereford in May last year.

He looks an ideal hurdler in the making over this distance.

Emperor Ross could step up on his third-placed effort in the novices' chase over three miles.

The seven-year-old, trained by Nicky Richards, is reappearing after a lengthy absence and will need to be fit to do himself justice.

Richards will also be keen to see how his promising Byron Lamb runs in the Doncaster Exhibition Centre Novices' Hurdle.

The five-year-old justified favouritism in a bumper at Cheltenham by two lengths in November and gave the impression that he was a good hurdling prospect.

Memsahib Ofesteem could run well in the Hobsons EC And T Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles, but slight preference is for the eight-length Hereford winner, The Flyer.

At Plumpton, Time To Parlez could take the SIS Digital Complete Picture Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

The 11-year-old followed a runner-up effort at Towcester by scoring by a length over a furlong shorter distance than this on the same course.

Gotha may turn in another good effort in the SIS Digital Your Favourite For Text Handicap Chase.

The eight-year-old was second behind the favourite Coastguard over a furlong and half longer trip at Stratford at the end of last month and any improvement on that run should be good enough to win here.