RACING/Doncaster preview: Adiemus is napped to put the record straight in the Freephone Stanley Lincoln at Doncaster today, 12 months after proving a costly failure in the first leg of the Spring Double.
The Jeremy Noseda-trained gelding was beaten a head by Zucchero after just failing to catch the winner in the 2002 Lincoln having been gambled on down to 5 to 2 favourite.
Due to a setback Adiemus never raced again last term but has returned as good as ever this time with three solid efforts on Lingfield's Polytrack surface.
Last Saturday he put up arguably his best performance when a strong-finishing neck second to Parasol from a poor draw when bidding to repeat his 2002 victory in the Winter Derby.
He failed by a neck to catch David Loder's front runner that day after having plenty to do off the home turn.
The drop back to a mile today should not be a hindrance but Noseda is to equip the five-year-old with cheekpieces to help him settle in the early stages of the big race.
Adiemus just sneaks into the bottom of the handicap but jockey Shane Kelly will have to put up 2lb overweight putting him on the 8st 5lb mark.
But the relatively lightly-raced Adiemus is still progressing and he appeals as a good bet to make amends this time from a favoured draw in stall 10.
Dangers abound and it could be Pablo who bustles up the selection.
The Barry Hills-trained four-year-old landed a gamble at Newmarket at the backend and could be a useful performer in the making.
There is a competitive line-up for the Cammidge Trophy and this six-furlong Listed contest can go to the super-fit Peruvian Chief.
Nick Littmoden's six-year-old has been kept on the go during the winter and has raced eight times already this year but despite his busy schedule the son of Foxhound appears to be improving.
In fact he produced a personal best to land a competitive conditions event at Lingfield last Saturday when he finished strongly to get the better of Kier Park by a length.
Darryll Holland was on board that day and takes the ride again tomorrow in a race which is sure to be run to suit Peruvian Chief, who is at his best coming late off a fast pace.
Darasim can land the Konica East Doncaster Shield for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.
The master of Kingsley House took the 12-furlong event last term with another stayer, Double Honour, and judged on Darasim's third in the Doncaster Cup he should hold too many aces for his rivals today.
At Newbury the Cheltenham Festival-winning combination of trainer Jonjo O'Neill and jockey Barry Geraghty can team up successfully with Ar Muin Na Muice in the EBF Crandon Park Stud Mares' National Hunt Novices' Hurdle Final.
They took the JCB Triumph Hurdle with Spectroscope and another decent prize can come their way again.
Ar Muin Na Muice scored impressively at Wetherby last time and now that problems with her jumping appear to have been ironed out she can defy the steadier of 11st 10lb in the a50,000 contest.
