Back Matilda Picotte for Sceptre success

Matilda Picotte can deny Classic heroine Cachet a successful return to action in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes on Sunday at Doncaster.

The George Boughey-trained Cachet sets a high standard on last season's form, having won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and coming mighty close to completing a huge double in the French equivalent.

However, she has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fifth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, equating to an absence of 457 days, and taking on race-fit rivals on rain-softened ground on her long-awaited comeback represents a difficult task.

Matilda Picotte was placed in several big races as a juvenile last season before landing a Listed prize at Newmarket in the autumn and she returned to the Rowley Mile in May to finish a fantastic third in the Guineas behind Mawj and Tahiyra.

The three-year-old was a little disappointing in her next couple of races, but very nearly bounced back to winning ways in a Group Three at Tipperary a couple of weeks ago after making much of the running.

The Irish raider has proven she handles testing conditions and this 1400m distance is quite possibly her optimum trip. With Oisin Murphy in the saddle, Matilda Picotte should go well.

Raasel is backed to notch his second victory in little over a week in the Betfred Scarbrough Stakes.

Having failed to get his head in front for over a year, Mick Appleby's high-class sprinter suggested his winning turn was not far away when third behind Highfield Princess in the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood in August and duly came good in a Haydock handicap last weekend.

His revised mark of 110 not only suggests he is in the form of his life, but also makes him the highest-rated horse in this 1000m Listed contest.

With soft ground not an issue, Raasel looks the one to beat.

The Clive Cox-trained Ancestral Land catches the eye in the Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap.

A third-placed finish behind the high-class Knight in a heavy ground Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury last season is a measure of the three-year-old's latent ability, but he has not reproduced that level of form so far this term.

That being said, he ran his best race of the year so far when third at Sandown in mid-June in first-time cheekpieces and he has since been gelded and given a break.

Back on an easier surface and with the cheekpieces replaced by blinkers, Ancestral Land looks dangerously well handicapped off his current mark of 94.

Alexi Boy is expected to give weight and a beating to his rivals in the Sands Ruby Anniversary Novice Stakes at Musselburgh.

Sixth first time out for Alice Haynes, the Oasis Dream colt was subsequently switched to Michael Bell's care and could hardly have been more impressive on his first start for the trainer at Lingfield.

While the depth of the opposition is open to question, Alexi Boy could do no more than win by upwards of five lengths and he looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to double up under a penalty in Scotland.

Yorkindness can continue her rich vein of form with victory in the Musselburgh Gold Cup.

The daughter of Nathaniel has won three of her last four races for Charlie Johnston and the manner of her latest triumph at York suggested she has many more victories in the locker. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

DONCASTER: Race 1: 14.50 Ayyab, Race 2: 15.25 Ancestral Land, Race 3: 16.00 Oh Herberts Reign, Race 4: 16.35 Matilda Picotte, Race 5: 17.10 RAASEL (NAP), Race 6: 17.45 Sea The Dream, Race 7: 18.20 Mrs Trump.

LISTOWEL: Race 1: 15.00 Nurburgring, Race 2: 15.35 Space Tourist, Race 3: 16.10 Atimetodream, Race 4: 16.45 Silver Gazette, Race 5: 17.20 Gracchus De Balme, Race 6: 17.55 Saint Sam, Race 7: 18.30 Glowing Account.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 15.15 Indispensable, Race 2: 15.50 Alexi Boy, Race 3: 16.25 Bulls Aye, Race 4: 17.00 Princess Karine, Race 5: 17.35 Spanish Hustle, Race 6: 18.10 Yorkindess, Race 7: 18.45 Doomsday.