Ralph's ace ready for repeat in Flat finale

TRAINER Ralph Beckett can lord it over his rivals at Doncaster today as the turf Flat season comes to a soggy close.

- by JASON HEAVEY

Mudlarks will be in their element and none more so than the Newmarket handler's LORD MELBOURNE (3.45, trb).

Twelve months ago he was a decisive winner of the Virgin Bet November Handicap and he is fancied to repeat the feat.

The five-year-old has only run once since when skipping clear to win impressively at Epsom in September.

He is 13lb higher in the weights this year, so it will be much tougher, but the talented Jack Dace takes off 5lb and Lord Melbourne looked like he had actually improved when scoring at Epsom.

Stablemate Master Vintner, Stressfree and Atherstone Warrior are all formidable rivals who will like the conditions.