BRIAN Ellison, who sent out two winners at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and who followed up with Always Resolute at Catterick yesterday, can maintain his festive winning run at Doncaster this afternoon.

The Norton trainer runs THE GREY TAYLOR in the £10,000 betdaq.com Novices' Handicap Chase and this highly-regarded gelding is fancied to show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the hands of Richard Johnson, who knows him well.

Although only fourth on his chasing bow at Wetherby in October, The Grey Taylor may have found that two-and-a-half miles stretching his stamina. He certainly looked much happier when switched back to two miles at Carlisle next time when coming home a fluent winner.

Ellison has swerved a couple of tempting races with The Grey Taylor since in the belief that the better ground brings out the best in him.

Underfoot conditions at Doncaster will be as good as anywhere in the country and The Grey Taylor should take plenty of beating as he bids to add his name to Ellison's list of Christmas winners.

PEPITE ROSE is selected to land the featured £30,000 betdaq.com Mares' Listed Chase.

Liam Treadwell's mount was well beaten by Al Ferof in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time – but she had previously looked good when winning at Aintree on her penultimate start. She will be a tough nut to crack if producing her best form in this two-and-a-half miler.

Keith Reveley has been quiet in recent weeks but the Saltburn trainer has a couple of solid winning chances on Town Moor with Donna's Pride and Balmusette.

The opening betdaq.com Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Handicap Hurdle is the target for DONNA'S PRIDE, who shaped well to finish third to Tap Night at Musselburgh earlier this month. That was her first outing since April and she is entitled to have improved as a result.

BALMUSETTE was a winner on this course in May and it would come as no surprise to see the six-year-old oblige again in the Download The Betdaq App Handicap Hurdle.

She finished fourth to Red Devil Boys on her latest outing here and although that winner is in the field again, Balmusette is taken to turn the tables on these revised terms. James Reveley has the mount on both of his father's runners.

GO LONG (12.35), who looked a progressive horse when winning here last month, and AMERICAN LEGEND (3.25), who may have needed his comeback run after a summer break when third at Warwick on his latest start, are two others to note.

Malton jockey Tony Hamilton duly achieved his maiden century at Lingfield yesterday on nap selection Gabrial The Hero before following up on Luis Vaz de Torres – both trained by Richard Fahey, who equalled Richard Hannon senior's all-time record of 235 winners in a calendar year.

Hamilton, whose previous-best tally had been 65 winners – achieved last year – has good prospects of further adding to his tally at Southwell this afternoon.

Hamilton rides Mitre Peak and Spirit Of Zeb for Fahey and both horses have leading claims.

Formerly trained in France by Pascal Bary, MITRE PEAK makes her debut for Fahey in the Ladbrokes Maiden Stakes. This is a race which may take little winning and the 82-rated Mitre Peak, who is awarded the nap vote, promises to be tough to beat if she adapts to this Fibresand surface.

SPIRIT OF ZEB, who runs in the Daily Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap over six furlongs, was a decisive winner over this course and distance at the end of last month.

Having since been raised 8lb, Spirit Of Zeb has more to do this afternoon but he is clearly well suited to this surface, being a dual course-winner. He should go well.

The evergreen AMAZING BLUE SKY (1.05) and the speedy WOLOWITZ (2.15) are also worth bearing in mind.