It has been a mightily quiet week, I've not found a horse worth punting on for the duration. But the flat is back tomorrow with the Lincoln at Doncaster but there is also a pretty good card at Kempton (where I will be). I think I've found a few.
Doncaster
13:50, William Hill Bet 10 Get 10 Spring Mile Handicap
Pressure's On 6/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
The ground at Doncaster will not be anywhere near as testing as in previous years and it's perhaps helped to produce what looks on paper to be one of the better cards in recent times. The Spring Mile is for horses that did not make the cut for the Lincoln which is run later on the card. Ed Dunlop's Pressure's On has snuck into the very bottom of this race and as such has found himself well fancied with top jockey Rossa Ryan up in the saddle. He looked like a fair handicapper last year when running good races in defeat but stepped up to win at Newmarket in the Autumn on soft ground. He showed his versatility 3 weeks ago when second at Wolverhampton over a shorter trip and that I suspect would have put him spot on for this. He's progressive now and is at the right end of the weights. It remains to be seen how his draw will pan out (6 of 22) but he looks sure to run a big race.
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15:35, William Hill Lincoln
Godwinson 16/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Native Warrior 11/1, 1pt win
The first big race of the 2025 flat season is here and it looks to be an up to scratch renewal. I've decided to pick out one on either side of the track here. William Haggas has been the King of big handicaps in the past and even though he may not have the strike rate he once did in these affairs he still knows the time of day. His runner here, Godwinson, is a likeable 5 year old who ran a massive race on seasonal debut last year to finish 2nd in the Spring Cup at Newbury and when given a mid-summer break he bounced back to win at Goodwood. He's still fairly handicapped now and given his record fresh I'm not surprised that his master trainer has aimed him at a prize he likes. He's drawn 3 (last year's winner was drawn 2) and on the other side of the stalls will be Native Warrior in berth 21. He ran against Notable Speech on seasonal debut last year before finishing 3rd in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (first home his side of the draw) before finishing 2nd at Goodwood. He races here off the same mark as when runner-up at Goodwood and after so few runs this 4 year old is still open to any amount of improvement and he is twice the price of his stable mate Thunder Run.
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17:20, William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Apprentice Handicap
Run Of Luck 7/1, 1pt win
I don't normally enjoy betting on amateur races but Run Of Luck here has really taken my eye. He is 1 pound out of the handicap but runs here off a light weight and is open to way more improvement than the 17 runners ahead of him in the market. The draw (17) is a worry and he will have to be dropped in but since he has been handicapping his form is 2nd, 1st, 2nd. He's improving and has a really promising jockey in Liam Wright aboard.
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Kempton
14:05, Virgin Bet Queen's Prize Handicap
Cool Party 8/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)
Charlie Johnston's 5 year old is a course and distance winner who arrives here off just a pound lower mark than when last successful. He enjoys leading and for one reason or another that has been happening much lately but with Silvestre De Sousa gets on well with this fella and I'm sure given the size of the prize fund here (and the unhappy draw in stall 9) that he will make the running and look to stretch the field. Connections are masters at aiming their horses at the big race and they look to have everything in their favour to bag this one.
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14:40, Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap
Mount Atlas 4/1, 2pts win
Andrew Balding is firing 3 bullets at this and with Oisin Murphy obliged to ride for Kingpower it has fallen to Hayley Turner to ride the likely favourite. She did win on this lad at Ascot last season in a decent race and it has often been said how Ascot form and Kempton form reads well together. He followed that run up by finishing second in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket. This son of Derby winner Masar is how off a mark of 98 but this will be just his 3rd handicap run and he could go onto better things after this.
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17:00, Virgin Bet Fives Handicap
Aramram 7/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Richard Hannon's string is in decent form and his 4 year old here managed to win first time up last year off a 245 day break. He improved at a rate of knots last year to finish runner-up in the Ayr Silver Cup before winning what I feel was a decent handicap at Wolverhampton. He was over the top when down the field on heavy going at Newbury on his final start in the Autumn but returns off a mark of 89 which still looks very manageable and given his upward trajectory I expect him to go close here.
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