Peter Beaumont received a welcome tonic when Cloudless Dawn ran away with the opening race on Yorkshire Post day at Doncaster.

Graham Lee, the leading rider at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, continued his rich vein of form with a near 93-1 treble on Rogues Gallery, Manbow and Rayshan at Wetherby today.

Tony McCoy proved his fitness ahead of some high-profile rides at the weekend when making a winning return to action on Ursis at Wetherby this afternoon, just nine days after dislocating his thumb.

Gunner Welburn, fourth in last season’s Martell Cognac Grand National, is on course for another crack at the Aintree marathon following his return to winning form in a dramatic skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby yesterday.

SWANSEA BAY extended his unbeaten sequence to four this season with another cracking performance under Andrew Thornton in the £50,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock Park yesterday.

Ferdy Murphy continued his good run when Paphian Bay won a dramatic opening ‘Leeds Rhinos’ Maiden Hurdle under Davy Russell at Wetherby today.

Dionn Righ could head for the Cheltenham Festival after producing a dour staying performance to take the Lonsdale Leisure (Carlisle) Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield.

Edredon Bleu will face 11 rivals when he attempts to follow up his 2000 success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow.

Wetherby's meeting survived an early-morning inspection after first frost and then snow had put the fixture in doubt.