Saturday 29th March 2025
1.50 Doncaster: William Hill Bet £10 Get £10 Spring Mile Handicap: The first of my selection for this week’s Saturday ITV blog comes within the 1.50 at Doncaster on Lincoln Day and this is the Class 2 Spring Mile handicap over the straight mile. I’ve tried my hand with two selections here, the first of which is Pressure’s On for Ed Dunlop and Rossa Ryan. He was a winner on soft ground at Newmarket on his final start of last season and posted a fine effort on his reappearance at Wolverhampton last month when finishing second of nine. He should strip a lot fitter for that assignment here and can go well. My other selection comes in the form of Farasi Lane for Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole. He ran a blinding race when finishing a shoulder second of twelve in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton last time out, and if he turns up in the same form he could outrun his big price here off just a pound higher mark. Pressure’s On – 15/2 (Each-Way) & Farasi Lane – 20/1 (Each-Way) (6 places – Sky Bet, Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair, Unibet)
2.25 Doncaster: William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Cammidge Trophy Stakes: My second selection of the afternoon comes within the 2.40 at Doncaster and this is the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes over six furlongs. I’m with the seven-year-old Spycatcher here who represents the Karl Burke yard here. The booking of James Doyle to ride is a big plus and he’s a horse that has gone well fresh in the past. He’s also got plenty of form on a variety of different grounds and was last seen finishing a fine sixth of twenty in the Grade 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, just two and a half lengths behind the winner. These are much calmer waters and I think that he can make his presence felt. Spycatcher – 5/1 (Each-Way)
2.40 Kempton: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap: I’ve got one selection on the day from Kempton and this comes within the 2.40 which is the Class 2 Rosebery Handicap over a mile and three furlongs. I like the unexposed Calumet here for Marco Botti and Jack Mitchell. He was an impressive nine-length winner of a maiden at Windsor last summer before finishing third of eight in a Class 2 handicap at Yarmouth on his final start of the campaign, in what was his handicap debut. He’s also got form at the track having place here twice in maiden company and there should be plenty of improvement still to come from him given that he’s still looked as if he’s learning on the job. Calumet – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places – Most Firms)
3.00 Doncaster: William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes: We go back up in grade now with the 3.00 at Doncaster and this is the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes over the straight mile. I’m strong on the chances of Dancing Gemini in this for Roger Teal and Kieran Shoemark. The majority of his campaign last term was spent in Group 1 company, with his final start coming when finishing fourth of twelve behind Charyn in the QEII Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot. This is a significant drop in class for him following that effort and it would be disappointing should he not go very close. He’s gone well fresh previously and he’s also got course form having won the Flying Scotsman stakes here as a two-year-old. Dancing Gemini – 10/3 (Win)
3.35 Doncaster: William Hill Lincoln: My final selection of the afternoon comes within the feature at 3.35 and this is the William Hill Lincoln which is a Heritage Handicap that’s contested over a mile. As ever, this is a ferociously competitive contest, and I’ve taken a chance on one at a nice price in Whip Cracker for Richard Hughes and Finley Marsh. He’s an unexposed four-year-old, yet, has already placed in two Listed events which both came at Newmarket last term in Feilden Stakes and Newmarket Stakes respectively. He made a very pleasing return to the track at Wolverhampton earlier this month in the trial for this race, finishing fourth of twelve doing all of his best work in the closing stages. He should come on significantly for that run and I think he can go well off the same mark. Whip Cracker – 12/1 (Each-Way) (6 places – Sky Bet, Bet365, Paddy Power, William Hill, Unibet, Boylesports)
