Phil Kinsella, number one jockey to Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson, eases himself back into action at Doncaster today after more than a month on the sidelines.

Kinsella suffered a recurrence of a shoulder tendon injury in a fall on the same course at the end of January and has been having punishing physiotherapy to return to full fitness in good time for the Cheltenham Festival the week after next.

Kinsella will be making his Festival debut and has a particularly fancied ride lined up in Cape Tribulation, whom he rode to a 17-length triumph in a Grade 2 hurdle on this track just before suffering his injury.

Tomorrow, the jockey returns to action on one of Jefferson’s lesser lights, Wot Way Chief in the Sands Comedy Club Handicap Chase.

A winner at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance in December, Wot Way Chief has twice finished out of the money since, but there was encouragement to be taken from his latest fifth-placed effort on this course last month.

He should give Kinsella a good ride and, if he returns to something like his best, is capable of winning.

Jefferson has a further fighting chance with Overbranch in the Sands Cabaret Club Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

Although she has to be forgiven her latest poor effort at Huntingdon, Overbranch had previously run good seconds at Towcester and Uttoxeter. A previous winner on this course, she will be given every assistance by competent stable conditional rider James Halliday.

The Doncaster programme has every chance of getting off to a right royal start, courtesy of Gold Award, who will carry the Queen’s colours in the opening Danethorpe Racing Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, Gold Award won two of his three races in bumpers last season, at Fakenham and Ascot before finishing a very creditable ninth in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

He should have too much class for his rivals today, providing his jumping holds up on his hurdling bow.

Mill Side (3.05), a pretty decent horse trained by Sue Smith, and Speed Bonnie Boat (3.40), who is overdue a winning turn, are two others to note on Town Moor.

There is no all-weather racing tomorrow, but there is further action from Doncaster – we will bring you that preview in The Press tomorrow – as well as useful cards at Newbury and Kelso.

Channel 4 cameras will be focussing largely on the £53,000 totesport.com Gold Cup Chase at Newbury, where spritely teenager Too Forward may prove the best value each-way bet, following his good third-placed effort at Cheltenham on his latest start.

Tom O’Brien has the mount.

At Kelso, make a note of Nicky Richards’ highly-regarded Money Trix in the £20,000 totesport.com Premier Chase, and Nick Gifford’s useful novice Neil Harvey in the £35,000 totepool Premier Kelso Hurdle, the most valuable race on the Borders programme.


Racing selections

Doncaster (today)
2.00 Gold Award, 2.30 Noticeable, 3.05 Mill Side, 3.40 Speed Bonnie Boat, 4.10 Wot Way Chief, 4.45 Overbranch, 5.15 Transact.

Today’s other meetings:
Fakenham, Lingfield, Newbury and Wolverhampton.

Newbury (tomorrow)
3.10 Too Forward.

Kelso (tomorrow)
3.35 Money Trix, 4.10 Neil Harvey.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Newbury and Doncaster.