DONCASTER RACECOURSE DATE FOR GROUP ONE STAR ARCANO

DONCASTER RACECOURSE DATE FOR GROUP ONE STAR ARCANO

A valuable £20,000 handicap is the highlight of a seven-race Doncaster card this Saturday, 31st July, supported entirely by public service union UNISON. The UNISON 'A Million Voices for Public Services' Handicap, the feature contest for three-year-olds and upwards over the extended mile and a quarter, crowns a high-quality card. The racing programme, sponsored throughout by UNISON, begins at 2-05 p.m. with the UNISON 'Your Friend At Work' Handicap. Elsewhere, UNISON team up with insurance company LV = FRIZZELL to support a seven furlong maiden, while they also join UIA Home Insurance in sponsoring a mile and a half race for three-year-olds.

Thompsons Solicitors get in on the act by joining UNISON to support a six furlong contest for sprinters where ARCANO, one of last season's most exciting two-year-olds, is set to make his eagerly-awaited re-appearance (3.15) at Doncaster on Saturday.

Brian Meehan's colt hasn't been seen in public since finishing third in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April to Dick Turpin - himself a Group One winner in France earlier this month. Last season Arcano proved too good for subsequent dual Classic winner Special Duty in the Group One Prix Morny, having won the July Stakes at Newmarket.

Meehan plans to run the son of Oasis Dream in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock in September, or even the Group Two Park Stakes at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster. Meanwhile, Luca Cumani's unbeaten ROCK N ROLL RANSOM is among the entries for the £20,000 added Unison 'A Million Voices For Public Services' Handicap (3.50). He supplemented his Nottingham maiden success with a winning handicap debut at Salisbury. Cumani has also pencilled course and distance winner Luc Jordan for the same mile and a quarter race.

Later, the Unison And UIA Home Insurance Handicap (4.25) could produce at least one likely candidate for the valuable November Handicap at Doncaster. Among the leading contenders is David Lanigan's course and distance winner SPARKLING SMILE, who may bid for a five-timer.

Newmarket trainer Ed Dunlop's juveniles have been going well so DUBAWI GULF must be high on the shortlist in the Unison And LV = Frizzell 'Car Insurance' Maiden Auction Stakes (2.40). She ran a highly encouraging debut behind the well-regarded Clinical on her racecourse debut at Doncaster earlier this month and looks primed to go one better.

* This year's Ladbrokes St Leger has the potential to be another high-class renewal after 42 entries were made for the world's oldest Classic last week. Among them are dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy, Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco and Royal Ascot winner Dandino. The St Leger takes place on Saturday 11th September.

Doncaster Best Bets: ARCANO (3.15); DUBAWI GULF (2.40).

Attractions in the Family Enclosure on Saturday include face painting, a bouncy castle and a speed kick game, while a steel band will play on the Champagne Lawn in the County Enclosure.

The giant screen, situated opposite the main stands will enable racegoers to see all of the action. A shuttle bus service will be in operation from the railway station (£2 return).

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