BACK-TO-FORM Thornton Gate appeals as the day's best bet in the Light Infantry Plate at Doncaster this afternoon.

Four times a winner last term, the Tim Easterby-trained gelding is without success so far this campaign but ran well enough at Warwick last time to suggest a victory is only round the corner.

The eight-year-old was going well in the lead three out only to be caught and outpaced on the run-in, in the end finishing second, beaten one and a half lengths by Goldingo.

With the stable in good form, Thornton Gate looks worthy of the nap and can open his account for the season off a favourable handicap mark.

Impressive Newcastle winner Nigel's Lad is taken to follow up in the Pardubice Novices' Hurdle.

Patrick Haslam's Nigel's Lad showed considerable promise on his hurdling debut when runner-up to the smart Marello at Gosforth Park with Durano, winner at Wetherby on Wednesday, 17 lengths back in third.

This promise was confirmed when the five-year-old returned to Newcastle only last Monday. The Middleham runner made all and drew clear from three out to trounce Supreme Soviet by 10 lengths.

Expect Nigel's Lad to lead from start to finish and take his hurdling score to two out of three.

Graham McCourt's string is enjoying a good run and his stable star Sister Stephanie can keep up the good work in the Berkshire Handicap Chase at Newbury.

Disappointing when tailed off behind Belmont King in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow on her reappearance, McCourt's mare put up a better effort at Towcester next time.

Given a determined ride by David Bridgwater, the eight-year-old was outpaced and never jumping fluently but her rider never gave up and Sister Stephanie's stamina came into play in the closing stages as she led dose home to win by half a length from River Mandate.

But that was still not the mare at her best and McCourt explained: "She pulled some muscles in her back at Towcester and that's why she jumped the way she did."

Reported "in good form now" Sister Stephanie can improve again to lift this trappy event.

Ambidextrous can regain the winning thread at Warwick having had his profitable run brought to a halt at Towcester last month.

Eric Alston's entire was successful in a seller and a novice handicap prior to contesting a competitive handicap at the Northamptonshire course where he showed improved form.

Raised 15lb for his two wins, the five-year-old was ridden to lead on the run-in but was caught close home and finished third, under a length behind the winner No More Hassle a good winner since.

Ambidextrous runner-up on the all-weather last week looks set to show further improvement with victory in the Emscott Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Rough Quest may be out for the season because of injury but his trainer Terry Casey could still be represented at Cheltenham after producing Splendid Thyne to score at Newbury yesterday.

A return to soft ground made all the difference as Splendid Thyne comfortably accounted for Clinton to take the Ardington Novices Hurdle by nine lengths under Jamie Osborne. "I would be keen to run him in the Royal Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham if the ground was soft. He is still a big baby and is too immature to run very often," he said.

Osborne completed a double with an enterprising ride on Takeamemo, who made all the running to beat Circus Star by five lengths in the Highclere Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Not engaged in the Triumph Hurdle, she nevertheless looked a useful recruit from this country and trainer Oliver Sherwood hopes to pick up other prizes for the 25 members of his Owners Club.

"We wanted something to go straight into battle with and she is definitely improving. She is not in at Cheltenham. I could see her running fourth or fifth in a Triumph, but there are plenty of smaller prizes to go for," said Sherwood.