LADY Protector, who had discovered a rich vein of form in recent weeks, can complete a hat-trick at Doncaster on Sunday.

Trained, not far from the Town Moor course by John Balding, the five-year-old goes for the Littlewoods Bet Direct Fillies' Handicap and will be partnered by Dale Gibson, who scored a length and a half victory on her at Newcastle last month.

That success was achieved in a handicap in which Lady Protector had gone down in a photo-finish 12 months earlier, so it was deserved compensation.

It was also the start of a purple patch, Lady Protector following-up at Windsor in the hands of Darryll Holland when getting the better of Inching and Lady Pekan by a neck and a head.

Close finishes seem to be the norm for Lady Protector, who has trip and conditions in her favour tomorrow, five furlongs on fast ground are her ideal requirements. She can oblige again and is awarded the nap vote.

Warden Complex will not be short of fans in the John Gordon Chemists Handicap.

A decisive winner at Leicester last time, James Fanshawe's colt is open to further improvement after only three races and can follow-up tomorrow.

Ace Of Hearts can prove the joker in the pack in the S P Bell Rated Handicap over the straight mile.

The five-year-old ended a long losing sequence in pleasing fashion at Newmarket last time when beating St Pancras by a length and a half. He has every chance of supplementing that success with Seb Sanders again in the saddle.

The promising La Persiana (3-25) and the speedy Flying Bantam (4-30) are two others to consider.

The feature race at Salisbury is the £35,000 Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes, a Listed event over six furlongs.

Moss Vale promises to be hard to beat here, the Barry Hills-trained sprinter following-up a Chester success with an impressive victory in stronger company at Haydock last time.

Luca Cumani's three-year-old Selebela is another horse with strong claims on a hat-trick in the totesport.com "City Bowl" Fillies' Handicap.

Sunday's tips:

Doncaster

2-20 Golden Fury, 2-50 Ace Of Hearts, 3-25 La Persiana, 4-00 Warden Complex, 4-30 Flying Bantam, 5-00 Lady Protector (NAP)

Salisbury

2-00 Coventina, 2-30 Dawn Surprise, 3-05 Roxanne Mill, 3-35 Moss Vale, 4-10 Selebela, 4-40 Joy And Pain

Stratford

2.10 Adalpour, 2.40 Hit Royal, 3.15 Marrel, 3.45 Proper Squire, 4.20 Golden Rambler, 4.50 La Tortuga.

There are no other meetings in the United Kingdom tomorrow.

Updated: 10:54 Saturday, June 12, 2004