French Mannequin, a fluent winner at Ludlow last month, has good prospects of following-up at Doncaster tomorrow - but she will have to do so without her winning rider.

Malton-born Andrew Tinkler, who gave the five-year-old such a bold front-running ride at Ludlow, is currently sidelined with a broken collar-bone.

One of the season's leading conditional jockeys, he hopes to be back in action sometime next week, in advance of the Cheltenham Festival, which takes place the week after.

His arch conditional rival Jamie Moore takes the mount tomorrow..

French Mannequin had the run of the race last time, so it would be foolish to go overboard about the merit of her victory. But she is a tough and consistent performer in any case and she looks to have an excellent chance of obliging again in the South Yorkshire Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle.

Sound Of Cheers should not be overlooked in the Ted Sands Lifetime In Racing Novices' Handicap Chase.

Fred Kirkby's gelding seemed to find the sticky ground against him at Sedgefield last time, when a well-beaten fourth to Polished, but he had previously shown himself to be in good nick with a win at Catterick.

With Sam Stronge in the saddle, he is napped to go well in a fairly moderate event.

The promising Red Ruffles (2.40) and recent winner Long Walk (3.50) are two others to consider at Doncaster.

Venn Ottery makes plenty of appeal at Newbury in the £12,000 Vodafone Handicap Chase.

A much-improved performer since switching from owner-trainer Oliver Carter to Paul Nicholls' formidable stable, the nine-year-old has won his last two starts in the style of a horse very much on the upgrade.

A trip to Cheltenham in a fortnights' time is on the cards for Venn Ottery. He can complete a hat-trick in the meantime in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

Charlie Mann has a high opinion of Famous Grouse, who makes his eagerly-awaited debut in the Horsey Lightly Fynn Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Formerly trained on the Flat by Roger Charlton, Famous Grouse, a dual-winner, proved a pretty decent performer in that sphere. He has all the credentials required to make a high-class hurdler.

The Arkell's Brewery Novices' Handicap Chase could provide a suitable opportunity for Tanikos to return to the winning groove.

Nicky Henderson's consistent five-year-old has run two good races in defeat since his latest win and is overdue another victory.

Friday's tips:

Doncaster

2.10 Shaffishayes, 2.40 Red Ruffles, 3.15 Sound Of Cheers (Nap), 3.50 Long Walk, 4.25 French Mannequin, 4.55 Left Bank, 5.30 Rover Marshall.

Newbury

2.00 Famous Grouse, 2.30 Grey Report, 3.05 Venn Ottery, 3.40 Tanikos, 4.15 Caribbean Cove, 4.45 She's Our Native, 5.20 Chasing The Bride.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Wolverhampton.

Updated: 13:04 Thursday, March 04, 2004