1.50 Doncaster

Mick Channon hit the ground running at Naas last weekend so MOBSTA (Best price 6-1) could be the answer to the first race of the new turf season. The five-year-old, partnered by Town Moor specialist Andrea Atzeni, boasts a good record fresh and so could be one to catch early in the season as was the case last term when he was prepared brilliantly to win this event first time out. An Irish Group 2 was bagged further down the line under similar conditions and the key to Mobsta is the ground so he would welcome any of the forecast showers today.

Mobsta - 0.5pts e/w @ 6/1

2.25 Doncaster

The Spring Mile is the first of two fiendishly difficult handicaps for punters and the likes of Nimr, Sacred Act and Ballet Concerto are all likely to be popular given their connections and profile. Each have looked potentially Pattern race performers at stages of their career and are respected with Sacred Path’s record fresh just putting him top of the shortlist.

However all have been well found in the market and the booking of Jimmy Fortune for SINFONIETTA (Best price 22-1) catches the eye so he could spring a mini surprise at a nice price. The time to catch the five-year-old was first time out last year when he bolted up at Nottingham on heavy ground and there doesn’t look a lot of pace drawn low so he may be able to dictate. Last year’s winner Lord Of The Rock also makes the shortlist as he didn’t have his optimum conditions again after winning here 12 months ago.

Sinfonietta - 0.5pts e/w @ 22/1

3.00 Doncaster

John Gosden has twice gone close to winning this race in recent seasons and there is a chance CRAZY HORSE (Best price 7-2) hasn’t finished progressing just yet. Gosden’s four-year-old should find conditions ideal on his return and he won off the back of a substantial absence at Salisbury (runner-up won next time out) last term on similar ground.

Two subsequent trips to France failed to yield a victory, but neither effort was without its merits and the gelding’s trainer is often a man to have on side at Doncaster as his father used to love training winners there. Cymric has been in good form in Meydan, recording some decent times in the process and could prove the biggest danger.

Crazy Horse - 1pt @ 7/2

3.35 Doncaster

It was less than 12 months ago that MASTER CARPENTER (Best price 22-1) was hunting up the likes of My Dream Boat and Cannock Chase in Group 3 contests so he has to be of some interest today off a mark of 99 in the Lincoln. Unfortunately, the big prices about Rod Millman’s six-year-old have gone thanks to Pricewise, but the odds on offer are still very fair for a horse of the selection’s ability who boasts a much better record at this stage of the campaign than later in the summer. Traditionally, the six-year-old has been at his best early season and his record in the months of April and May reads three wins and five places from 13 outings.

Compare that to his stats from June onwards of just one success from 18 runs then he appears a horse to have on the radar for a race of this nature, especially off a slipping handicap mark, the lowest he has been able to run off since his juvenile days. It is 26 years since Alex Greaves became the first female rider to win the Betway Lincoln, but Lulu Stanford has an excellent chance of joining her compatriot in the history books today.

Master Carpenter - 0.5pts e/w @ 22/1

2.05 Kempton

John Gosden has done his best to make the Magnolia Stakes his own in recent campaigns so LINGUISTIC (Best price 5-2) makes plenty of appeal today. Of the four horses the Newmarket handler has run in this race in the last decade, three have won and the other was placed so the son of Lope De Vega catches the eye, especially as a gelding operation may help to focus his efforts this season.

The selection has plenty of natural ability, but his temperament was called into question last term so first time out after his ‘procedure’ may be the time to catch him with his yard’s horses seemingly well forward judged on the performance of Jack Hobbs last weekend.

Linguistic - 1pt @ 5/2

2.40 Kempton

With six victories from their nine Kempton starts, DUTCH GOLDEN AGE (Best price 9-2) and last year’s winner DOUGAN (Best price 10-1) could prove the duo to concentrate on.

Narrow preference is for the former who ran out a cosy winner of a course and distance handicap in a strong time in February and hails from a yard which has found some form this week. He may also be marginally better drawn than his rival today, but they look extremely difficult to split.

Dougan’s only defeat in three starts here came when he suffered trouble in running last September and he again found his passage interrupted in a valuable Newcastle handicap over the minimum trip last time. He looks sure to give a good account again as he bids to defend last year’s triumph.

Dutch Golden Age - 1pt @ 9/2
Dougan - 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1

3.15 Kempton

A useful collection of middle distance handicappers line up here and it would be no surprise to see one or two graduate into Pattern company before too long. That comment could apply to BIG COUNTRY (Best price 4-1) who created a superb impression both visually and on the clock at Wolverhampton on his debut for new connections. The prospect of a genuine pace should assist the chances of the selection as he can be slowly away in his races and is stepping back in trip, but hopefully those slight concerns will be negated by a decent gallop. He had no right to record the figure he did on his UK debut given the class of the race and looks an exciting prospect. Wild Hacked appears the type to make up into a very useful middle distance performer this year and is feared most.

*Read Sam Turner's tips in the Daily Mail every day or at www.dailymail.co.uk/racing

Big Country - 1pt @ 4/1