Although we are still enjoying some of the biggest jumps festivals, the Flat is back and punters have a nice mixture of racing to look forward to on terrestrial TV at the weekend. The big race on Saturday is the Lincoln Meeting 2024 at Doncaster and here we look at some of the major races on Saturday’s ITV cards, while hopefully pointing you toward some winners.
2.25 Doncaster – Spring Mile Handicap
Run over the straight mile, this is going to be a very competitive contest with 18 runners set to go to post, but the lightly-raced Helter Skelter can run a big race for trainer Rebecca Menzies with Alistair Rawlinson in the saddle. A four-year-old son of Elzaam, he had three runs for John Joseph Murphy in Ireland last year before changing stables and moving to Britain.
He showed a real liking for soft ground last year and despite being winless in four career starts, he could be really nicely treated off a mark of 74 on his handicap debut. Helter Skelter was given a nice prep for this when fourth over 1m1½f at Wolverhampton on stable debut last week. He wasn’t knocked about and should be primed for a big run with conditions to suit.
3.00 Doncaster – Cammidge Trophy Stakes
In what could turn out to be a tactical affair over the 6f trip, there’s a chance Sophia’s Starlight could get things her own way out in front and on soft ground she could be difficult to reel back in if she’s allowed too much rope. She very nearly made all when caught in the dying strides in Listed company at Newmarket on her final start last year, and she proved she is a gutsy filly when making all to win the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last August.
Sporting the colours of Nick Bradley Racing, who have three of the seven runners in the line-up, it will be interesting to see what way she goes in the betting but she is a very live contender in an open renewal of the race.
3.35 Doncaster – Lincoln Meeting 2024 Handicap
Migration carried top weight to win this race last year and he will need another awesome performance to achieve the same feat 12 months on. It’s a big ask and it may be wise to look elsewhere. The most likely winner on paper is Awaal, who finished second to Migration in this contest last year, but who has a 3lb swing in the weights with that rival this year if you factor in rider’s claims.
Also placed in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Bunbury Cup last year, his Balmoral run to round off his season last year can be forgiven as he was drawn on the wrong side of the track and ultimately had no chance as a consequence. A first-time tongue tie is being applied here and he has good form in the mud, so everything is pointing to a huge run on his return to action.
Selections
2.25 Doncaster – HELTER SKELTER
3.00 Doncaster – SOPHIA’S STARLIGHT
3.35 Doncaster- AWAAL
By Rob Eddy
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