Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster and Kempton on Saturday. View selections below.
ETERNAL FORCE (3.32) can make a good fist of providing trainer William Haggas with his sixth William Hill Lincoln scalp on the opening day of the Flat turf season at Doncaster.
The gelding mopped up all three starts in a light three-year-old campaign and the Lincoln was singled out as his likely 2026 early-season target as far back as last October when successful at Haydock. Softer ground would have been ideal but there should be enough juice in the track to get the job done.
Favourite La Botte has been all the rage on the back of an eye-catching fourth at Wolverhampton three weeks ago, when noted staying on late from an unpromising position. Potentially, he is probably the most interesting of today’s 22 runners.
David Menuisier won the 2023 Lincoln with Migration and last summer’s Goodwood scorer Tribal Chief can go well under Sean Levey.
Shout is a habitual sloppy starter, which must be a frustration for all concerned, but won a nursery here by three lengths in 2024 and last season’s fourth in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot was a fine effort.
Last year’s Haggas-trained Lincoln winner Godwinson has switched to Jack Channon’s yard and will do well to overcome an 8lb higher mark.
Virgin Bet sponsor a classy all-weather programme at Kempton where BRASIL POWER (2.08) has the services of Billy Loughnane in the two-mile Queen’s Prize.
This previous course winner arrives on the back of a Wolverhampton success earlier this month and may have most to fear from last summer’s Northumberland Plate winner Spirit Mixer and Belgravian, a four-time scorer on the grass for Andrew Balding last season.
Some firms are offering four places to each-way players in the 1m 3f Rosebery Handicap and it is difficult to envisage Balding’s RESPOND (2.42) being out of the frame.
The stable won this event 12 months ago and Respond ran out an emphatic winner at Chelmsford City a fortnight ago. The hooded gelding takes a strong grip and was sensibly allowed to stride out in front on that occasion, so similar tactics are likely to be employed.
Karl Burke’s dual course winner Whitcombe Rockstar is another arriving here in great nick and rates a danger.
Some useful fillies head to post for the Snowdrop Stakes and the Loughnane-ridden SURVIE (3.13) should be on the premises.
She ran a corker when third in a Group 1 event in Saudi Arabia after mopping up the Lingfield Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield at the end of January.
Cathedral acquitted herself with credit when placed in quality contests last season and the formbook suggests she will play a part in proceedings.
There are some sharp sprinters going to post for the six-furlong handicap, headed at the top of the weights by in-form FAST TRACK HARRY (5.03).
His wide draw isn’t ideal but Rob Hornby should be able to tuck in off a strong gallop before swooping late to complete a three-timer.
Tally Ho
Alan
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