Abbajabba, at his best fresh and on soft ground, can play a starring role tomorrow on day two of Doncaster's curtain-raiser to the start of the Flat turf season.

Trained by Chris Fairhurst, the five-year-old lines-up for the £10,000 Town Moor Handicap and, with Joe Fanning in the saddle, is fancied to come out on top.

Without a single win up until last season, Abbajabba came into his own with successes at Hamilton, Epsom and Ayr. Moreover, he also ran well in defeat on several occasions.

The rain-softened ground will be perfect for the Middleham sprinter, who is awarded the Nap vote.

Fitness is always at a premium at this time of the year and the chances are that the winner of the South Yorkshire Times Handicap will come from one of the runners who has had a hurdling campaign this winter.

Among that group is Knighted, trained by Tim Easterby, who has shown consistent and creditable form all winter. Paul Fessey takes the mount on the five-year-old, who figures on a handy mark at the foot of the handicap.

The £20,000 randombet.com Spring Mile is the consolation event to the Lincoln Handicap and comprises the next 24 horses in the weights which failed to make today's cut for Saturday's big race.

Scene, a course winner, who seems to excel in big fields, has a better chance than most, especially after a recent pipe-opener on the sand to banish winter cobwebs.

Barry Hills has an excellent record at this opening fixture and it would come as no surprise to see the Lambourn trainer lift the Mexborough Maiden Stakes with Amicable, who showed plenty of promise last season.

Hills should also be powerfully represented by Mr Combustible in the Maltby Maiden Stakes, but the vote here goes to Steinitz, beaten only half-a-length by No Excuse Needed on his Sandown debut last season before disappointing at Goodwood. John Dunlop's colt looks set for a good campaign.

Over the sticks at Newbury, make a note of Ryedale raider Donnybrook in the featured Paul Croucher Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase. Trained at Welburn by Bob Woodhouse, Donnybrook has been running really well and is overdue a winning turn. Tony Dobbin has the mount.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Doncaster

1.30 Time To Burn

2.05 Steinitz

2.35 Knighted

3.10 Scene

3.40 Abbajabba (Nap)

4.10 Amicable.

Newbury

1.40 Stromness

2.10 In The Rough

2.40 Right To Reply

3.15 Dulas Bay

3.50 Donnybrook

4.20 Gunner Welburn

4.50 Harcamone.

Updated: 14:16 Thursday, March 22, 2001