HAYDOCK Park specialist Kingsmark goes for a hat trick of wins in the racecourse's first major steeplechase of the jump racing season on Sunday.

The Cumbrian-trained horse finished a hugely creditable fourth in the Grand National despite finishing lame and has won the last two runnings of the £50,000 Edward Hanmer Memorial Steeplechase.

But he won't have it all his own way on Sunday as other horses with good records around Haydock are set to challenge him for the crown.

Dual Tommy Whittle Chase winner Bobby Grant is among the 21 horses entered for the three-mile race, as is Frantic Tan who was victorious in the last running of the De Vere (now Red Square Vodka) Gold Cup.

Four horses that ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March are among the entries. They include Champion Trainer Martin Pipe's Cyfor Malta, Behrajan, Lord Noelie and - from Ireland - Sackville who was favourite for the Blue Riband at this time last year.

Haydock Park's general manager Adam Waterworth, who predicts a good crowd for Sunday, said: "The standard of entries is extremely good, making the Edward Hanmer just about the highest quality early season steeplechase in Britain."

BBC TV cameras will be at Haydock on Sunday to cover three races, including not only the Edward Hanmer Chase but also The corporatedirecteurope.com Novices' Chase in which trainer Jonjo O'Neill's exciting former top class hurdler Keen Leader makes his eagerly awaited debut over the larger obstacles.

The day is named after Lancashire's international cricketer Peter Martin whose benefit year for the county is being marked for the second time at Haydock. A benefit lunch is being held for 'Digger' who is a hugely popular all-rounder among cricketing fans at Old Trafford and further afield.

Advance tickets for all race meetings at Haydock are available by calling 01942 402624. More information is available on web site www.haydock-park.com HERE

Haydock Park's remaining programme for the 2002/3 National Hunt season: Saturday 30 November; Saturday 14 December; Saturday 28 December; Saturday 4 January; Saturday 18 January; Saturday 8 February; Saturday 1 March; Saturday 29 March; Saturday 3 May.