NIGHT IN MILAN can this afternoon enjoy a day at Doncaster - for the second successive year.

Trained at Lingdale near Saltburn, close to the North York Moors, by Keith Reveley, the gelding is fancied to lift the historic £50,000 BetBright Grimthorpe Chase and repeat his success of 12 months ago.

Night In Milan goes particularly well on this course and on a sound surface.

He has finished placed on his last two outings, both on Town Moor, and should be cherry-ripe for this valuable target in which he will be partnered by the trainer’s son James Reveley, who knows him so well.

Last year in this contest, Night In Milan crossed the line five lengths clear. The downside is that he’s now set to race off a 10lb higher mark.

It may not, however, be enough to prevent this Grand National entry from completing a notable double.

The Reveleys can also lift the BetBright Cheltenham Festival Fund Mares’ Hurdle, a Listed event, with nap selection Balmusette.

The progressive six-year-old ran a fine race on this course last time out to finish second to the front-running Dewala, trying to concede a whopping 13lb to a rival who has since scored under Tony McCoy at Catterick.

This step out of handicap company represents a rise in class for Balmusette, but she is a very likeable and talented mare and the chances are that we haven’t seen the best of her yet.

David O’Meara, who will soon be extra-busy with Flat runners from his powerful Nawton yard near Helmsley, can figure in the spotlight with Ifandbutwhynot in the BetBright Risk Free Bet Handicap Chase.

A very useful hurdler before his attentions were turned this season to fences, the nine-year-old opened his chasing account at Musselburgh last time out and looks capable of coping with a 5lb weight rise on ground he relishes.

Top Irish jockey Davy Russell looks a significant booking.

Also worth noting at Doncaster are the hat-trick seeking Batavir (3.10) and John Quinn’s Distime (4.20), an unlucky faller at Sedgefield last time.

Norton-based Quinn will also be strongly represented at Kelso in the feature race, the £35,000 totescoop6 Premier Kelso Hurdle, by Chieftain’s Choice, a faller at Newbury in hot company last time out.

Previously a dual-winner over hurdles, Chieftain’s Choice remains a horse to keep on the right side, but it is tricky to tip him for this Listed company on the back of a fall.

Preference is for Glingerburn and Intense Tango at the top and bottom of the weights.

The vote goes to Glingerburn, conqueror of Cheltenham Festival winner Hawk High in the Morebattle Hurdle on this course a couple of weeks ago and a horse who has already made huge strides this season.

The £30,000 totepool Premier Chase is the main supporting race and is a difficult race to get a handle on.

The vote goes to the in-form Runswick Royal, a smart performer over shorter distances and a good fourth at Haydock last time in the hope that he lasts out over this longer distance.

Brian Hughes, rider of Runswick Royal, will also be aboard Cango in the Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Trained on Tyneside by Michael Smith, this ex-Irish recruit has won two of his last three races at Catterick and Ayr.

There is probably more to come from him.

The strong-galloping Ballybolley (1.55) and the evergreen Major Malarkey (5.20) can produce a first and last race double for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, the man responsible for The New One, the leading British hope in the Champion Hurdle, now less than a fortnight away.

Doncaster today: 1.25 Cardinal Walter, 2.00 Ifandbutwhynot, 2.35 Balmusette (NAP), 3.10 Batavir, 3.45 Night In Milan, 4.20 Distime, 4.50 Oh Land Abloom.

Kelso today: 1.55 Ballybolley, 2.25 Cango, 3.00 Glingerburn, 3.35 Oscar Lateen, 4.10 Runswick Royal, 4.45 Ballyvoque, 5.20 Major Malarkey.

Today’s other meetings: Newbury and Lingfield.