ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster

13:20 Doncaster

The Listed William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes is the Turf Flat season opener, and I am strong on the chances of the Roger Varian-trained CHARYN (best price 3/1) who mathematically should be a clear favourite.

This high-class four-year-old made the frame in both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes last season before filling the places when third in the Sussex Stakes, which coincidentally were all behind Paddington.

His most recent start saw him finish third in the Grade 2 Celebration Mile, and although he was a place behind Knight, I’m very sweet on the possibility of him reversing the form this time around, as I’m convinced he’s the best horse in the field.

A sluggish start last time out didn’t help, which immediately set him on the back foot, but he travelled into the race with plenty of purpose outside of the field, and despite looking the likely winner down the straight, the early running he did to get himself back in contention took its toll.

I was impressed by his effort in defeat, as considering everything went wrong for him, he still nearly succeeded. Given that he was campaigned solely in pattern company last term, this represents a significant drop in grade for him.

Moreover, he has a good first-time-out record, which reads a win and a second from three starts, with the latter coming in a Group 3 race, and he has a liking for soft ground too. The top-rated runner in the field is a strong win bet.

Despite the ground being an unknown for him, Karl Burke’s MARSHMAN (best price 7/2) is likely to be ready for this return given his good record when fresh and is handed the vote to capitalise on this fine opportunity.

This four-year-old made a winning return in a Chantilly Group 3 last season and is unbeaten in two starts first-time out. He was far from disgraced when he finished seventh in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, and that is the strongest piece of form in this field.

The drop in grade will be to his liking, and his handler has been among the winners of late, so there’s a lot to like about his credentials, and I suspect he will just have too much natural class for these. He is very appealing. 

Extra ITV Racing Tips

13:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Pickanumber has won her last couple of starts impressively, but preference goes to the top-weight JUNGLE JACK (best price 7/2), whose form is far superior and must be considered a major player on the back of his narrow defeat at Kelso.

The eight-year-old saves his best for this venue, which reads 121 from three starts, and the form of his latest neck-second has worked out well with the winner, Cracking Rhapsody, subsequently winning the Morebattle Hurdle.

In his previous visit to this track, he beat Homme Public by three lengths, and the runner-up has franked the form by subsequently defying a mark of 139 over fences. With this in mind, Donald McCain’s charge remains well treated, with a mark of 135.

Clearly, he derived from a wind operation last time out, and his form has continued to stack up well, which is a positive. The same can’t be said about most of these, and his record at this level or lower over hurdles reads an impressive 111212212. I think he has a great chance.
 

As an each-way option in Bangor’s opener, look no further than LIANDINABO LAD (best price 12/1). This nine-year-old has been very disappointing over fences of late, but he was very smart over hurdles beforehand and returns to this sphere on a dangerous mark.

He goes well on similar ground, and his record at this course reads 212 from just three starts. He is miraculously 24Ib lower than when he was second on his last visit here, which came over course and distance. From a career-low mark with David Bass having his only ride, he is worth an each-way investment.

In the Bet In-Play On Racing With BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle, IDY WOOD (best price 13/2) is a really solid each-way option for the bang-in-form Jamie Snowden team.

With three wins and three placed efforts from six career starts under rules, the six-year-old will find this easier than the Grade 2 race he contested last time out, when he finished third.

This two-time Grade 2 placed horse was turned over at Hexham at short odds, but the form has a nice look now, given that the winner was last seen winning the Morebattle Hurdle up at Kelso.

The return to this longer trip can only be seen as a positive, and an opening mark of 124 on his handicap debut is reasonable. He is, interestingly, Jamie Snowden’s only runner on the card, too.

He has a lot in his favour and should have plenty more to come. The likes of Into The Park and Spirits Bay are respected, but everything seems in place for a huge run from this tough individual.

DIRTYOLDTOWN (best price 10/1) resumed winning ways at Newmarket in November on similar ground, and although he was well beaten over course and distance on his last visit here, he remains well handicapped. He’s gone well fresh in the past, and his head-second to New Kingdom here in September 2022 is a strong piece of form. He makes plenty of each-way appeal. 
 

HARSWELL DUKE (best price 7/1) can compete in this race off a really handy mark and won this race last year from an 8Ib higher mark. He hasn’t set the pulse racing in his recent starts, but he’s thrown in here for a potential repeat bid and must be a serious player, having likely been trained for the race again. He is a win-only bet. 

The Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Handicap Chase can go the way of the class act in the field, SOLO (best price 11/2), for the Paul Nicholls team under the guidance of the talented Freddie Gingell, who can claim a valuable 5Ib.

This eight-year-old won a quality renewal of the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase last season when beating horses rated in the high 150s and lost little in defeat in conceding weight to an unexposed four-year-old at Ascot a month later.

He ran well when second in his previous visit to this course, and the return to a handicap will definitely suit. He is rated 13Ib and more than his rivals, and he could be too good for these if he performs to his mark.

PARTY VIBES (best price 9/2) is making giant strides under rules, and despite meeting tougher opposition in today’s Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor 'National Hunt' Mares' Novices' Hurdle, she could be up to the task head on her handicap debut. 

Henry Daly’s mare only found one too good in her first couple of starts before winning her last couple of starts under attacking tactics. She has won with plenty to spare on both occasions, and I think this longer trip will bring about improvement. 

I’ll be surprised if she’s not heavily involved, with up to five places widely available. 

Later on the card at Newbury, in the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper, ANDASHAN (best price 4/1) makes the most appeal on the back of a winning debut at Kempton.

He was very professional for a debutant, as he travelled very well, and once asked to win his race, he stayed on strongly to defeat a rival who had the benefit of experience. 

He should have a lot more to offer and should be pushing favouritism based on form. I like his chances, so a bold bid could be forthcoming here.