Doncaster Tips: Saturday ITV Racing Predictions & Odds The Lincoln Meeting
It's the opening day of the new flat racing season, and the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster is one of my personal early season highlights.
An incredible tough meeting to solve as a punter, with two days full of big field handicaps, but there's plenty to get stuck into, and I've got the main races covered exclusive on Free Bets for Saturday's card.
Doncaster Tips - Saturday ITV Racing
I've taken a look at the key races below and with each tip you'll see odds from the best betting sites too, so you can see what prices are currently available on them all.
Doncaster 1:50pm - James's Delight (EW)
Go back 12 months and James's Delight was sent off favourite to win this race, but could only finish 5th behind Spycatcher, who's also back again this year, going down by just under four lengths.
He didn't get the clearest run that day, and could probably have been as close as third, with a little more luck.
Since then, a Group Two win in Ireland, and some down the field finishes in Group 1 company, a step too far for him.
While I can definitely understand why Spycatcher is ahead in the betting, I don't think there's enough between these two to warrant James's Delight being double the price. I also see it as a positive that the selection has ran well on seasonal debut before.
- Recommendation: James's Delight (EW 4 Places) at 8/1 with BOYLE Sports
Doncaster 2:25pm - Far From Dandy (EW)
Up at the top of the weights for the Spring Mile, and unlucky to miss out on the main event later on the card, I think Far From Dandy can go well, with the eye catching booking of Colin Keane a real positive for me.
He's ran twice already so I think he'll have a fitness advantage over some, and the run at the Curragh two weeks back was a really strong effort in a similar race to this.
Fumbling the start, he was switched out and kept in the rear of the field before coming through and doing all of his best work late on, finishing well on heavy ground.
A better start, positioned better to come from off the pace, and slightly better ground here can all work in his favour. His running style means he'll need the gaps to appear, but there's few I'd want in the saddle to find them over Keane.
- Recommendation: Far From Dandy (EW 6 Places) at 12/1 with 365/SkyBet/Paddy Power
Doncaster 2:57pm - Docklands (NAP)
Just five go to post for the Doncaster Mile, and I think of the runners, Docklands is a clear standout and from my horse racing tips for Doncaster, he's the NAP selection.
A globetrotter, he's been to Hong Kong, Japan and France in his last four starts, all at Group 1 level. A fourth at Ascot, in the same company, going down by just under two lengths was his sole British start in that period.
The opposition, in my opinion, match the quality of the race, they're Listed or minor group level performers whereas Docklands has another gear I think.
My only doubt is fitness and how ready he'll be for this season opener, but if he's fit enough to do himself justice, I think he's a better animal than the four taking him on.
- Recommendation: Docklands (NAP) at 7/4 with William Hill & Unibet
Doncaster 3:32pm - Tribal Chief (EW)
The big race of the day has plenty of talking horses, and if they run as well as people will have you believe, this is the last time we'll see La Botte and Eternal Force in handicap company.
While the marks they have could prove to be very lenient in time, I'll look further down the market for opposition and this is where I find Tribal Chief, who I think can run well at double figures.
He's got plenty of big field handicap experience, which I like on my side in a race like this. While not at the same standard of this contest, he won a big field Goodwood race last year off 90, and had a tough passage when 7th at Ascot on his final start last season, coming off 94.
Returning this season he's rated 93, and I think there's scope to go well off that kind of mark. Tough enough to be at home in this kind of race, at the prices I see him as a lively outsider to take the Lincoln.
- Recommendation: Tribal Chief (EW 6 Places) at 12/1 with 365 & BOYLE Sports
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