NOT THE greatest weekend of racing we’ll ever be faced with as everybody in the National Hunt world readies themselves for the up and coming Festival, now under two weeks away.  However the jumps season doesn’t finish at Cheltenham and this week Doncaster stages an interesting match up between two Grand National contenders in Cloudy Lane and Mr Pointment.  The former is looking to complete a hat-trick and set up a National bid for Donald McCain, who will be dead keen to emulate his dad – the four-time winning Ginger McCain.  The latter, however, hails from the all-conquering Paul Nicholls yard and shot to the head of the market after a clean success in the Becher Chase over the National fences.  Nicholls has sent out the winners of big race after big race on Saturdays and I see this as an ideal prep-run before the four-and-a-half mile slog in April.  Down at Kempton they stage another jumps card which features some competitive little heats.  One such race is the Betfred.com Novices' Hurdle.  Although there are a number of runners with proven form over the obstacles already I’m going to suggest Jeepstar to run a good race on his debut.  A talented horse over staying distances on the flat, he could spring a surprise if transferring that level of ability to jumping. 

Selections – 3.25 Kempton, 6 Jeepstar

                                                                 3.30 Doncaster, 1 Mr Pointment