Horse racing tips: Doncaster and Newbury on ITV4 – Matt Chapman’s top betting preview for Saturday, March 24
Get all the info to bash the bookies as ITV's Matt Chapman runs you through the racing this Saturday.
IT'S back! Yes, for many, despite the all-weather action that has been taking the place, the Flat season really gets under way at Doncaster today on ITV.
The ITV coverage mixes Flat and jumps with a trio of events also covered from Newbury.
After Cheltenham - here's hoping you lumped on Native River who I banged on about for the last three months - it's sometimes hard to get excited by the Flat.
But remember Cracksman and Enable are around the corner. This could be one hell of a Flat season.
Let's get straight to today's action and see what damage I can do to my friends at Sun Bets.
The 1.50pm at Doncaster is the Listed Cammidge Trophy over just about 6f. The leading contenders are all old timers who like the mud. However, the improver towards the end of last season was TERUNTUM STAR, and although he is no youngster if that continues this term he will be hard to keep out of the frame for Kevin Ryan. He has good Doncaster form.
Next up is the 2.25pm, the Spring Mile over, surprisingly enough, 1m. There is a chance Rod Millman's SIR RODERIC is absolutely chucked in off 81 and he likes the surface.
It's impossible to say whether he'll be at the top of his game, but Oisin Murphy is a good jockey booking and he was up in the high 90s not so long ago. My hope has won five times, with four of those victories under Freddie Tylicki. Thoughts with him.
Matt Chapman's TV Tips
1.50 Doncaster - Teruntum Star: 'Likes the mud and will be hard to keep out of the frame'
2.05 Newbury - Shanroe Santos: 'One of the few real stayers and looks an each-way play'
2.25 Doncaster - Sir Roderic: 'Could be chucked in off a mark of 81'
2.40 Newbury - Oistrakh Le Noir: 'Good win last time and could be well in off this mark'
3.00 Doncaster - Zabeel Prince: 'I like him a lot and think he can get back to winning ways here'
3.15 Newbury - Midnight Tune: 'She gets the trip really well and is improving all the time'
3.35 Doncaster - Lord Glitters: 'He's a Group horse in the making'
It's the Listed Doncaster Mile at 3pm. ZABEEL PRINCE was a bit disappointing on his final run last season, but he'd been very progressive until then and can get back to winning ways for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni. I like him a lot.
Finally at Doncaster it's the big betting race, the Lincoln, over 1m at 3.35pm. This is not the race it used to be with just 10lb between most of the runners. That means top weight LORD GLITTERS has every chance of giving the weight away for David O'Meara. He's a group horse in the making and has a telling turn of speed in these conditions.
Over at Newbury, there's a handicap chase over nearly 3m2f at 2.05pm. I'll have just a few quid each-way on SHANROE SANTOS trained by Lucy Wadham. He's a bit high in the weights now, but he's one of the few real stayers in this race and will keep on going when others are stopping.
There's a juvenile handicap hurdle over nearly 2m3f at 2.40pm. I would think OISTRAKH LE NOIR is the one to beat after a good win last time for Ben Pauling. Prior to that he did little wrong when second to Nayati at Ascot. This is easier and he could be well in.
Finally at Newbury it's the Grade 2 mares' novices' hurdle final over an extended 2m4f at 3.15pm. It won't be easy under top weight for MIDNIGHT TUNE trained by Anthony Honeyball. However, she gets the trip really well and is improving all the time. I'll back her each-way with four places. Hopefully all 16 run!
So best of luck everyone and let's hope for some Yeeehaaas. You Betcha!