Saturday 26th March 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome to this week’s Saturday Preview where the flat returns at Doncaster as it’s Lincoln Day on Town Moor. I’ll be previewing and sharing my opinions on all of the races leading up to the feature, and then giving my thoughts on the big heritage handicap itself.

I hope you all enjoyed the Cheltenham blogs this year, and I’m really appreciative of you checking them out. As ever though, I hope you enjoy this one!

– Jordan

I’ll be kicking things off with the 1:15 which is the Brocklesby Stakes, a conditions race over five furlongs. This well-known affair for two-year-olds is often a bit of a guessing game, and I’ve taken a somewhat tentative chance on Blatant at 8/1 for for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop. This two-year-old is sired by the star sprinter Brazen Beau, who’s had some success already as a sire and connections also won this race last year with Chipotle, who went on to have a very solid campaign. If this colt is anything like his sire he could be a solid recruit. 

It’s Listed action up next at 1:50 with the Cammidge Trophy taking centre-stage over six furlongs. This is pretty competitive affair of which Garrus looks the one they all have to beat, which is reflected in his price. I’ve tried to take him on though, and I’ve done that with an old friend of mine in Mondammej at 10/1 for Anthony Brittain and Cam Hardie. He’s been kept busy over the winter on the all-weather so will arrive here with a fitness edge on most of these, and in these types of contests he often runs his race. If some of these aren’t completley tuned up he could take advantage at a decent price.

Moving onto the 2:25 now which is the Spring Mile Handicap which is a Class 2 affair over a straight mile. I’ve sided with General Lee here at 7/2 of the Cole team and PJ McDonald. He enjoyed a fine campaign last season, often hitting the frame and grabbing a couple of victories including when he was last seen at Goodwood back in August. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be fully tuned up and ready to go here, but I think there could well be more progression to come from him this season and if that’s the case he could have a big say in this particular assignment.

The penultimate race before the feature comes up at 3:00 and it’s the Doncaster Mile which is a Listed contest. This looks to be all about Chindit for Richard Hannon and Rossa Ryan who sits at the top of the market at short odds of 8/11. He’s got the best form in the race by some way, having ran solid races in Group 1 contests as well as taking the spoils in a Group 3 event last season. This is refectled in his official rating too, as he’s a considerable way clear of his rivals here and he should be winning this even if he isn’t at his best.

Coming up at 3:35 is the feature contest of the day which is the Lincolnshire Heritage Handicap, which is also conteted over a straight mile. The race is often a fiercely competitive affair and this year’s renewal of the race is no different. I’ve come down on Modern News at 4/1 for this year’s race who represents Godolphin and is trained by Charlie Appleby, with the horse being set to be ridden by apprentice rider Harry Davies who takes off seven-pounds. Appleby’s four-year-old was last seen when finishing third in Listed company at Meydan when making his return to the track, after a progressive campaign last term. He’s also got course form having won here in September at the St Leger Festival, and I’ll chance him going close again here for connections that won the race a few years ago with Auxerre.