Smart Hostess, who enjoyed a fine campaign last year, aims to pick up where she left off at Doncaster tomorrow.

The five-yer-old, trained at Settrington, near Malton, by John Quinn, lines-up for the £20,000 Value Packed Yorkshire Season Ticket Handicap over five furlongs.

She will have the added advantage of her favourite ground. Good going is forecast, with the likelihood that it will ride on the easy side of ideal.

Smart Hostess, a half-sister to stable-mate Smart Predator, won four races last season, which culminated in a narrow triumph over her brother - himself a five-times winner last year - on this course in the autmn.

Quinn believes that there is even more to come from Smart Hostess this term and, although tomorrow's big field is a hard one to call, I expect Robert Winston's mount to give a good account of herself.

Tomorrow's feature race is the £25,000 Freephone Stanleybet Spring Mile, a consolation event for those horses which fail to make the cut in Saturday's Lincoln Handicap.

Mick Easterby's horses have been in fine form over jumps and there is every reason to believe that Strong Hand can provide with precisely that in this competitive event.

A dual-winner on the sand over the winter, Strong Hand relishes a little bit of cut in the ground and is particularly well served by a strongly-run mile, both of which she will get tomorrow. In a wide-open race, she is awarded my Nap vote to pop-up at decent odds.

Lambourn trainer Barry Hills is a noted fast starter with a liking for getting off the mark at Doncaster. He looks set to make his presence felt tomorrow.

Hills saddles the promising Zonus in the opening race, the Mexborough Maiden Stakes. It is not difficult to see this colt, a creditable runner-up on his only juvenile outing, getting his head in front. Hills won the corresponding race 12 months ago with Weavers Pride.

In the Maltby Maiden Stakes, Hills also has a strong chance, courtesy of Flamboyant Lad, a horse with a similar profile to Zonus, having finished second in his only race last year.

Michael Hills, Barry's son, takes the mount on both of his father's horses, and he will also be aboard stable-companion Pablo on Saturday when he bids to repeat last year's Lincoln Handicap triumph.

The Lakeside Handicap over two and a quarter miles puts the emphasis firmly on stamina and fitness.

Snow's Ride is well-equipped in the first department, but whether she is fully tuned-up after a winter off, only time will tell.

She is not one to underestimate, however, having ended last term with two wins to her credit. She looks a progressive stayer.

Over the sticks at Newbury, from where the first two races are being televised live on Channel 4 as well as the first four of Doncaster's races, I fancy the consistent Motcomb Jam to oblige for Charlie Mann and Noel Fehily in the Montpelier Re Novices' Handicap Chase.

Friday's tips:

Doncaster

1.15 Zonus, 1.50 Snow's Ride, 2.20 Smart Hostess, 2.50 Strong Hand (Nap), 3.25 Docklands Dude, 4.00 Flamboyant Lad

Newbury

1.30 Fenix, 2.05 Twenty Degrees, 2.40 Young Collier, 3.10 Motcomb Jam, 3.45 Silence Reigns, 4.20 Grand Prairie.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Lingfield (Flat, all-weather fixture).

Updated: 12:03 Thursday, March 25, 2004