In-form Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson, hoping to see Paul Hanagan, one of his former pupils, crowned champion jockey at Doncaster today, travels to Market Rasen tomorrow with every chance of figuring among the winners with the well-regarded Mac Aeda.

The strapping gelding won his bumper on this course last season, and although unable to add to that debut win, he is fancied to make a bold bid in the digibet Novices’ Hurdle.

Mac Aeda had a couple of runs over hurdles last term, but, after promising plenty, was comfortably held each time. Jefferson’s horses were, however, very much in-and-out last season and they seem in much better form now.

Graham Lee, who has ridden winners for the stable recently on Gilbank at Wetherby and King Fontaine at Haydock, takes the mount on Mac Aeda, who has always been held in high regard by Jefferson. He should go well and is awarded the nap vote.

Jefferson has an even higher opinion of Hanagan. The top northern jockey spent a year with the North Yorkshire handler in his first job in racing before he went on to Richard Fahey. Not surprisingly, Jefferson is keeping his fingers tightly crossed Hanagan is crowned Britain’s champion Flat jockey at Doncaster this afternoon.

Tony McCoy can make his journey to the Lincolnshire course worthwhile by completing a double on Pullyourfingerout and Diaco.

The latter, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was a winner here on his latest outing and is pretty experienced over fences compared to some of his rivals in the Victor Lucas Memorial Novices’ Chase.

Pullyourfingerout, trained by Brendan Powell, could hardly have won any easier at Taunton last time. At the line the three-year-old was 22 lengths clear of his toiling rivals. He will surely take all the beating, despite a penalty, in the Market Rasen Racecourse Juvenile Hurdle.

Also worth noting are Kensington Oval (2.25), a stable-mate of Diaco and a winner last time out at Towcester, and Rosenheath (3.30), who returns to action after a wide-margin win at Huntingdon in May.

At Ffos Las, Mediolanum is an interesting runner in the opening Lindley Group Novices’ Hurdle.

Winner of a Killarney bumper on his only start when trained in his native Ireland, the five-year-old, who has since joined Nigel Twiston-Davies, finished a good second to Ballybriggan at Aintree on his hurdles debut. Entitled to improve, Mediolanum can go one better under Paddy Brennan.

The promising Round Tom (1.40) and last Sunday’s runaway Huntingdon winner Sunday City (2.45) are two others worthy of respect at the Welsh venue.


Racing selections

Market Rasen tomorrow
1.20 Pullyourfingerout, 1.50 Mac Aeda (NAP), 2.25 Kensington Oval, 2.55 Diaco, 3.30 Roseneath, 4.05 Mischief Man.

Ffos Las tomorrow
1.10 Mediolanum, 1.40 Round Tom, 2.15 Chain Of Command, 2.45 Sunday City, 3.20 Cool Mission, 3.55 Regal Approach, 4.25 Keys.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Hereford.

Today’s meetings: Doncaster, Kelso, Sandown, Wincanton.