STAMINA will be at a premium at Market Rasen today when a dozen runners set out to contest the Clugston Lincolnshire National over a distance just shy of three and a half miles.

But that test should be meat and drink to NOT A BOTHER BOY, who is fancied to continue the excellent run being enjoyed by Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith.

Married to Harvey Smith, the legendary former show-jumper, the Bingley handler recently celebrated her 1,000th success when Wakanda won a major race at Ascot under Malton jockey Danny Cook.

The form of the Smith stable, which sent out Auroras Encore to win the Grand National in 2013, has been exemplary of late and Not A Bother Boy highlights that fact as the winner of his last three races.

The seven-year-old seems to have improved for being stepped up to three miles-plus and his hat-trick, achieved at Sedgefield, showed him to be a horse in tremendous heart.

Claimer Trevor Ryan, who has adopted such a good association with Not A Bother Boy, takes the mount again this afternoon.

It's a step up in grade for the gelding, who has been raised 9lb, so it won't be easy. But Not A Bother Boy is capable of maintaining a strong gallop over a marathon distance when others have cried enough and he is fancied to extend his winning sequence to four.

North Yorkshire trainer Peter Niven can clinch the Lees Of Grimsby Furnishers Novices' Handicap Hurdle with PIXIEPOT, the mount of Harry Challoner.

The five-year-old has finished in the money in her last four outings, including a runner-up effort here most recently behind Palm Grey. Pixiepot has good prospects of going one better this time.

Norton-based conditional rider Dean Pratt, attached to John Quinn's Highfield stable, has been snapped up to partner MY LORD for East Sussex trainer Jim Best in the opening Mount & Minster Chartered Surveyors & Land Agents Selling Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has run creditably in his two outings this season and looks well handicapped on the best of his overall form.

He should make his 200-plus mile journey from Lewes well worthwhile, especially with Pratt able to reduce his weight by a valuable 5lb.

TOP CAT HENRY (1.35), who was far from disgraced over Aintree's Grand National fences earlier in the month, and GRIMLEY GIRL (2.45), who has course-winning form, are two others to note at Market Rasen.

Malton jockey Jamie Hamilton will be hoping that being booked to ride a horse with the name of STORM FORECAST is not a bad weather omen at Sedgefield.

The Malcolm Jefferson-trained gelding got off the mark on this course earlier in the month and has every chance of doubling up in the Hardwick Arms Hotel Sedgefield National Hunt Flat Race, especially as Hamilton's 5lb claim erases most of his winning penalty.

Sheriff Hutton trainer Mark Walford saddles UNO VALEROSO in the Happy Christmas From Paxton's Handicap Chase and Tony Kelly's mount deserves attention from punters.

A promising fifth at Wetherby three weeks ago, Uno Valeroso dips down in grade and up in trip here. It could bring about a return to winning form.

BOLLIN ACE, placed in all six of his National Hunt outings, can finally break his duck for Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby in the Castle Construction North East Ltd Novices' Hurdle Qualifier.

Lucy Alexander takes the mount on the four-year-old, who boasts some fairly solid form over hurdles. Opportunity can come knocking for him here.

Recent Market Rasen winner BARNEY DWAN (12.10) and the Brian Ellison-trained JETHRO (1.55), who is upped in trip and switched to handicap company for the first time, are two others to note at the course famous for its 'pie-and-peas' – perhaps a perfect antidote for racegoers after turkey, trifle and the whole works yesterday.

Today's nap selection is DOLATULO – who bids to win the £40,000 Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby, which we featured in our Christmas eve racing preview, along with the main meeting at Kempton.

The Warren Greatrex-trained gelding won the showpiece event 12 months ago and is back for another shot after an excellent placed effort in the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree last time.

Don Cossack, who is three-from-three this season, gets the vote in the Christmas showpiece the King George V1 Chase at Kempton, where FAUGHEEN is selected to win the Christmas Hurdle for the second successive year.

* PAT Rohan, the popular former Malton trainer, has died aged 82.

Rohan, who was based at the Grove Cottage yard, handled top-class sprinters Right Boy, Tin Whistle and Althrey Don in the 1960s and was a prolific producer of winners for the next 20-plus years.

In 1968 he saddled 52 winners, which was more than any other Flat trainer in Britain.

Richard Fahey, now one of the leading trainers in North Yorkshire, was originally apprenticed to Rohan, who also employed Sir Michael Stoute as his pupil-assistant after he came to Britain from Barbados in the 1960s to pursue a training career.

This resulted in Stoute becoming a multi-champion and handling the famous but ill-fated Derby winner Shergar.

Rohan, who had been in good health and attended the Gimcrack Dinner at York earlier this month, died suddenly earlier this week, which shocked and saddened Malton's racing fraternity.