ITV Racing Doncaster and Lingfield Preview

The first race on ITV is the Grade Two Lightning Novices' Chase and we can't see past the favourite Shishkin, who is looking to make it three from three over fences.

The seven year old since falling on his hurdles debut has shown bundles of ability and plenty of gears when it comes to finishing his races which have seen him land three contests in a row at Newbury, Huntingdon and of course Prestbury Park.

His win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle has since been franked with the narrow second Abacadbras for Gordon Elliott since going on to land the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle, with third Chantry House and fourth Asterion Forlonge both going on to win on chase debut.

Shishkin could not be upstaged and on his first start over fences in November he showed the racing world just how good he is by pinging every fence and showing the turn of foot of last term, when just being nudged by Nico De Boinville and going away from the second placed Mick Pastor with ease.

Last time out he kept his outstanding unbeaten run going with another faultless round of jumping in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas and overall should have too much for this field again.

Marie's Rock for trainer Nicky Henderson is looking to bounce back to form on Saturday in this event, as the Seven Barrows handler has decided to send her here instead of the Betfair Hurdle.

The six year old daughter of Milan was a model on consistency last term for Nicky Henderson running three times and winning all of her events in good style, stepping up in class in each event.

Having won in May 2019 at Ffos Las in a bumper, in December of that year she made her hurdles debut at Haydock in an Introductory Hurdle and powered away from a smart field by five lengths.

She then headed to Taunton a few weeks later in a Listed Novices' Hurdle and again stepped up to beat some nice horses by eight lengths and she was all set to head to the Cheltenham festival and give Willie Mullins a run for his money in the Mares Novices' Hurdle.

However, she suffered an injury setback that saw her off the track for sometime and she unfortunately missed out on the festival in March.

She made her seasonal return this season at Newbury in the Listed Intermediate Hurdle looking to get back to form having fully recovered from injury and when coming with a challenge ultimately blew up and looked like she needed the run more than the yard thought.

If being well she is the one to beat.

The first race from Lingfield on Saturday sees a Class 5 Handicap over six furlongs and the Roger Teal trained Swiss Pride is a horse on the upgrade.

The five year old gelding has really got his act together on both his runs this year, with both coming over todays course and distance and him not finishing outside the places.

Having finished third in early January he got back to winning ways last time out, beating some of today's rivals and only up 2lb in Saturday's race gives him another clear chance.

It is raining Grade Twos on Town Moor and next up is the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle and Pats Fancy for Rebecca Curtis holds a big chance.

The six year old gelding holds some of the stand out form entering the race, being seen four times this term and only once finishing outside the top two.

In October he made his seasonal debut in a bumper and finished a good second behind the smart Alaphilippe for Fergal O'Brien who has turned out to be a very nice horse over hurdles.

He then went to Hereford in another bumper and did not seem to handle the track and was quickly sent over hurdles by his trainer.

He made a superb debut over flights, winning a decent maiden at Ffos Las over 2m4f which has since seen the second win a good Novice Hurdle.

Pats Fancy was stepped up in class last time out when sent to Cheltenham over three miles in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and finished a nice second.

He should come on for that run today and having showed experience in this company over this trip he looks a live player at 13/2.

The Class 3 Betway Handicap is Lingfield's second event on ITV and it comes over 1m4f and Pirate King for Charlie Fellowes looks the obvious contender.

The six year old gelding has been a sold yardstick for Fellowes at Lingfield, especially over this course and distance landing a hat-trick of wins around this time last year.

His last two runs have also come over course and distance at has seen him finish a good second and tricky third last time out not quite getting the run of the race in a tactical affair.

Although not giving his best showing, he knows this track so well and another solid run looks on the cards from the same mark.

One of the most interesting races on ITV on Saturday is the Sky Bet Listed Handicap Chase over three miles and Cap Du Nord is weighted to go extremely well.

The eight year old has been superb this season, finishing a good fourth on seasonal debut at Wincanton to blow the cobwebs away and then next time out getting off the mark for the term.

The gelding went to Newbury in a 16 runner Handicap Chase over 2m6f and jumped his opposition into submission, seeing off some of his rivals on Saturday.

Last time out he headed to Kempton in a similar event and finished a good second behind superstar Royal Pagaille for Venetia Williams, who has since franked that form by winning off a much higher mark next time out at Haydock and third placed Double Shuffle has since won next time out.

Cap Du Nord still seems to have plenty in hand when it comes to his handicap mark and if running to his current form has a big chance in this, handling the soft conditions well.

The final event of the day comes from Lingfield in the Class 3 Handicap over a mile and Masked Identity for trainer Shaun Keightley looks an interesting contender.

The six year old has put in some lesser performances of late, but last time out bounced back to form at Chelmsford to finish third of 10 over seven furlongs.

Although placing he did have some trouble in running and may have gone closer if getting the run of the race and that should give him encouragement for this event stepping up to a mile.