DONCASTER’S two-day meeting took place on borderline soft and heavy going, with the taxing conditions accentuated by wind, and was blighted somewhat by small fields.

Sam Spinner had just two rivals to beat, and effectively none after Aye Right departed and Windsor Avenue (later found to be wrong) back-pedalled, but still ran a useful time – worth 142 after sectionals have been allowed for – in winning the Grade 2 December Novices’ Chase on Saturday. The other Grade 2 on the card, the Summit Juvenile Hurdle, was more competitive but somewhat second-tier, with Navajo Pass running a 132 figure in toughing things out better than 127-rated Lord Lamington.