Saturday 28th March 2026
NAP (Best Bet)
My best bet of the day on Saturday this week comes from Kempton and in the 3.13, which is the Virgin Bet Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes, a Listed event over a mile on the all-weather. I’m strong on the chances of SURVIE here for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane. She’s a Group 2 winner who’s also been placed several times at Group 1 level, including on her most recent outing, where she finished third behind Royal Champion in the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh last month. That’s form which speaks for itself, and she’ll also have race fitness on her side ahead of main market rivals Cathedral and Glittering Surf. She also won the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield on her penultimate start in January, and I think that she looks very solid here.
3.13 Kempton – SURVIE – (7/4) (Win) (NAP)
NB (Next Best)
I turn my attention to Doncaster for my next best bet of the afternoon, and the 2.57, which is another Listed event in the form of the Doncaster Mile. The Harry Eustace-trained DOCKLANDS makes a lot of appeal here for the team of Harry Eustace and Jamie Spencer. He takes a significant drop in grade here, having been plying his trade at Grade 1 level for the large parts of last season, where he added a top-flight success to his CV when winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. If he’s anywhere near that level of form for this particular assignment, he’ll be very tough to beat; however, it would still be disappointing if he didn’t post a very bold bid. He’s gone well fresh in the past, and should be bang there.
2.57 Doncaster – DOCKLANDS – (7/4) (Win) (NB)
3B (Third Best Bet)
My third-best bet of the day comes from the Curragh, and the 1.55, where we have a competitive five-furlong handicap. I’m fairly strong on the chances of STAG NIGHT in this particular affair for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee. He’s an admirable campaigner at the age of eight and often gives a good account of himself in these types of races. He was third here last year off a five-pound higher mark, and made a pleasing return to the track when third here earlier this month over six furlongs and on heavy ground. He possibly tired on the surface on that occasion, and should be a lot sharper here back down to five. I think he’s got a big chance off this mark, and a big run would be no surprise.
1.55 Curragh – STAG NIGHT – (7/1) (Win) (3B)
Each-Way Bet
I head back to Doncaster for my each-way bet of the day, and this comes within the 1.50, which is the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes over six furlongs. I’ve come down on JASOUR here for Clive Cox and Jason Hart. He hasn’t been seen since finishing a very solid sixth of fourteen behind No Half Measures in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, which is good form considering he was only two and three-quarters of a length behind the winner on that occasion. A repeat of that run would be enough to go very close in this, as he’s taking a significant drop in class. His last win also came on good-to-soft ground, which it’s likely to be here, and that win also came following a break.
1.50 Doncaster – JASOUR – (13/2) (Each-Way)
Longshot
My longshot of the day comes within the feature at Doncaster at 3.32, which is the Lincoln Handicap over the straight mile. It’s always an ultra-competitive affair, and in this year’s renewal, I’m taking a chance on BOTANICAL for Karl Burke and Sam James. He’ll have no issue with the ground here, having won on both good and soft surfaces, and he’s dropped down to a mark which is three pounds lower than his mark when he finished second of twenty in the John Smith’s Cup at York a couple of seasons ago. He’s no stranger to big-field competitive handicaps and makes his stable debut here for the Karl Burke yard. He’s also run well fresh in the past, and is generally a useful sort on his day. I think he can outrun a big price here.
3.32 Doncaster – BOTANICAL – (14/1) (Each-Way) (6 places)
