Double delight at Doncaster

It was a day for doubles at Doncaster with trainers Alan King, Nicky Henderson and Malcolm Jefferson enjoying two winners apiece.

With less than two weeks until the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the formidable King and Robert Thornton combination is peaking at the perfect time.

Noticeable (5-4 favourite) kicked off King’s double when scooting to victory in the Gainsborough Trinity Football Club Claiming Hurdle.

Only nine days after landing a seller over the course and distance, he returned with an easy nine-length win over Sparkling Montjeu.

King’s Tarotino then bounced back to winning ways with a commanding display in The Sands Venue In Gainsborough Novices’ Chase.

Never far off the pace, the 85-40 favourite always looked to have the measure of closest rival Mill Side when things got serious. Once shaken up, he drew 12 lengths clear of Bleak House.

King’s assistant, Noel Williams, said: “The better ground has clearly suited him today.

“We dropped him back in distance and he has jumped much better.”

Henderson’s winners were both ridden by Felix de Giles and came in the shape of favourites Gold Award (11-10) and Fairyland (9-4).

The former, carrying the colours of the Queen, made a winning hurdling bow in the opening Danethorpe Racing Partnership Conditional Jockeys’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, while the latter broke a string of seconds when taking The Sands Cabaret Club Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

De Giles said: “Gold Award is a nice horse. He’s a big long-striding type, who was always doing enough.

“Fairyland did really well to win. She got in tight to the final three hurdles which made it hard.”

Jefferson was not to be outdone and his Wot Way Chief benefited from a slight ease in grade when defying joint-top weight in The Sands Comedy Club Handicap Chase.

Jefferson said: “He’s done it well. He goes on soft but he much prefers this better ground.

“He likes two miles to two and a half miles.”

The stable were also in celebratory mood after Cocoa Key stepped up on his debut effort when landing the Alan Price At The Sands Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

It was a landmark moment for pilot Phil Kinsella, who was notching his 100th winner.

The jockey said: “I’ve not been making too much of it but maybe my parents and family have been waiting for the 100th.

“With Tony McCoy recently celebrating his 3,000th winner, it puts into perspective.

“Cocoa Key showed a really willing attitude in the closing stages and he has galloped all the way to the line.”

King was narrowly denied a third success when Ellen Tilley was bested by Argento Luna (7-4 favourite) in The Sands Restaurant EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier).

Oliver Sherwood’s inmate travelled noticeably well for Dominic Elsworth and although over a length adrift just after the last, the grey had enough in the tank to battle back and score by a neck.

Sherwood’s assistant, Warren Greatrex, said: “She really deserved this success.

“She wouldn’t want the ground much quicker than it was today.

“She has a lot of class, though, and I would have thought the final of this race is a distinct possibility for her now.”