Overturn spared overdrive in Doncaster victory cruise

Overturn showed plenty of the enthusiasm that has made him so cherished by the racing public when winning his second novice chase at Doncaster today – but connections expect better still when circumstances allow. Always likely to dominate the three rivals who pursued him at steadily increasing intervals, Overturn was not asked for anything too bold until some of the closing fences.

Donald McCain will bring him back to Town Moor at the end of the month before heading to the Racing Post Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, for which he remains 7-1 with Paddy Power, behind the odds-on Simonsig. "This was [nearly] two and a half miles on dead ground," the trainer reasoned, "so we've gone fairly sensibly. You won't see the real Overturn until he's 'eyeballs out' over two miles. It's like he's on springs, he wants to attack everything he jumps."

The Dubai International Carnival gets under way at Meydan today, casting a beam of sunlight upon the cheerless domestic January. William Hill took the cue to open a book on its climax, the Dubai World Cup, favouring the American mare Royal Delta at 9-2 from the Japanese star Orfevre on 5-1. But it is the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, who makes immediate appeal at 7-1 after his superb run in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Turf account

Chris McGrath's Nap

Bussa (2.55 Lingfield) Has typified his stable's terrific form in running up a hat-trick.

Next best

Entitlement (5.45 Kempton) Lightly raced and ran her best race yet when stepped up to this trip for her handicap debut, miles clear of the rest behind two in-form rivals.

One to watch

One Scoop Or Two (Reg Hollinshead) Looks equal to his rating, exposed to a hot pace when third at Wolverhampton on Sunday.

Where the money's going

Bear's Affair is 9-2 from 5-1 with the sponsors for the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.