The Grand National may still be a weekend away but ITV Racing switches its focus from the jumps to the flat this Saturday with coverage of Doncaster’s Lincoln Handicap card, complemented by a trio of Kempton contests.
Read about our three each-way plays in the notoriously competitive main event, or scroll down for our best bets on the undercard.
ITV Racing Tips – Saturday March 29
2.05 Kempton – Who’s Glen @ 9/2
2.25 Doncaster – James’s Delight @ 5/2
3.15 Kempton – Shuwari @ 10/3
Bet on the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Stick with the alliance taking Kempton by storm in Queen’s Prize
Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding are the winning-most jockey and trainer at Kempton this season, with champion rider Murphy booting in 8 winners from 20 rides at a red-hot 40% strike rate and Balding top of the trainers table thanks to seven successes from 29 runners (24% strike rate).
The duo team up with WHO’S GLEN in the Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap (2.05) and look to have a superb chance of adding to their respective tallies at the Sunbury circuit.
Like favourite Kamboo, the unexposed gelding steps up to 2m for the first time against several more exposed rivals with proven stamina. However, while Kamboo has never raced beyond 1m4f, the selection scored by 13 lengths over 1m6f on heavy ground at Chester on his penultimate outing.
That goes a long way to dispel stamina doubts and having proven effective on the all weather with three placed efforts in four tries over shorter trips prior to that Roodee romp he can improve for the step up to 2m for his in-form jockey and trainer combo.
Tip: 2.05 Kempton – Who’s Glen @ 9/2
James’s to delight his backers with ground right for Spycatcher revenge
The three at the top of the betting Doncaster’s Listed Cammidge Trophy (2.25) are virtually inseparable on handicap marks, with JAMES’S DELIGHT rated 110, Marshman 110 and Spycatcher 111.
Race-fit Marshman has to concede 3lbs to the other two, who renew hostilities after clashing in the Group 3 Barriere Prix de Meautry at Chantilly and Ascot’s Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes last term.
Spycatcher got the better of his rival by fine margins on soft ground on both occasions, but the expectation is that the selection can turn the tables on the likely-good-to-soft going, having won two of his three career runs on such a surface.
Tip: 2.25 Doncaster – James’s Delight @ 5/2
Sangster has strong Snowdrop chance with unexposed Group 1 filly
The Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes (3.15) looks a three-horse race on official ratings, with Soprano (111), SHUWARI (108) and Crimson Advocate (106) all 12lbs or more clear of the field as per the handicapper.
Soprano is an odds-on favourite at the time of writing after a lengthy and well-travelled three-year-old campaign in which she landed a Deaville Group 3 and twice medalled in Group 1s later in the season.
She sets a fair standard after 14 career runs but could easily be vulnerable to the aforementioned rivals, rated not far off her after just four and five races respectively.
Of the pair, Shuwari makes most appeal having finished second in a 7f Group 2 on the penultimate start of her two-year-old season before finishing it off with another silver medal in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile.
Having missed her Classic campaign, when she was considered a Guineas contender, she could well retain the class to prove too good for this sphere on her belated return to the track.
Tip: 3.15 Kempton – Shuwari @ 10/3
