THE start of the turf flat season at Doncaster on Saturday will be run in testing conditions and at the time of writing on Friday morning there is more rain forecast at a course where like many racecourses it has been a challenging start to the year.

We can look forward to an excellent and competitive card though, with a full field for a typically open Lincoln Handicap, where the market is headed by Al Mubhir Unibet 100/30, trained by William Haggas, who has an excellent strike rate in this race. It is worth reminding everyone that there has only been one successful favourite in the last ten years and seven of the last ten winners have been priced 12/1 and above.

Ground conditions look sure to play a big hand here and with quicker ground I would have definitely looked at Wanees, a good winner at Haydock at the end of last season when marked up in my Unibet blog, as well as Majestic, right at the bottom of the weights, who won the Cambridgeshire in 2022.

Instead, Atrium is a course and distance winner, who will handle conditions as he showed last season and as will Empirestateofmind, looking a progressive type with strong each way claims at minimum.

Unibet are paying SIX places in The Lincoln!

The rest of the card is wide open with plenty of each way opportunities and this is a meeting I always look forward to.

Enjoy whether at Doncaster or watching on ITV Racing.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster.

2.05 Kempton – Unibet More Extra Place Races Magnolia Stakes Listed Race (1m 2f) 

Tyrrhenian Sea ran a cracker when second to Lord North in the Winter Derby on his reappearance in February and with that form looking all the better after Lord North’s Meydan win last weekend, he can take another step forward to win this. This classy individual was very unlucky on his only start at the track last year in the race won by Atrium (see the Lincoln) and with a slight doubt about Secret State at this trip he can strike here.

2.25 Doncaster – Pertemps Network Spring Mile Handicap (1m)

Baltimore Boy ran well at Ascot on his last start of the season, when second to Raising Sand (reopposes here) on good to soft after being held up and this unraced two-year-old had form figures last season of 31202. If he is fit enough for his first appearance of the season, he will be right in the mix in this wide-open contest.

Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if 2nd or 3rd in this race

3.00 Doncaster – Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy Stakes Listed (6f)

Fast Response improved rapidly over course and distance through the autumn last year, finishing off winning the Wentworth Stakes on the final day of the season, when going clear in the closing stages and relishing the heavy ground. That was a really good performance and Fast Response won three of her four starts in the autumn with conditions soft or heavy. If she is primed for her first start of the season, then there is plenty to like about her chances if she takes another step forward in a race where the Karl Burke team also have the favourite El Caballo.

Unibet are paying EXTRA places in this race

3.35 Doncaster – Pertemps Network Lincoln Heritage Handicap (1m)

Atrium (nap) was a course and distance winner at the St. Leger meeting on his last appearance of the 2022 season, when moving smoothly through from the back of the field to win cosily on soft, testing going, with Empirestateofmind (see below) , who reopposes, back in second. This four-year-old is coming here looking for a three timer, having won at Newbury on his penultimate appearance and has the right profile with ground conditions in his favour and a likely strong pace, so tactically he can challenge late.

Unibet are paying SIX places on this race!

Empirestateofmind finished second to Atrium (see above) over course and distance last September and then stepped up when runner-up to Substantial at York in October after looking like the winner until headed late on. These two were well clear of Isla Kai in third (runs in 2.25 Spring Mile Handicap)  in a twenty-runner field and you have to mark this performance up.  Empirestateofmind is very consistent too, having finished seven times in the first three, including two wins and four seconds from ten starts in 2022. He definitely has a strong each way chance with Taylor Fisher claiming five for the John Quinn team.