Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Doncaster and Kempton
- Planet Sport writer
- 31 March 2023
It's the first Saturday of Britain's turf flat racing season and the ITV cameras are on hand to capture two meetings on April 1, so the Planet Sport tipsters have a selection for all seven races.
The Lincoln Handicap (1535) is the big feature race of Saturday's action, but there's also some other crackers that shouldn't be ignored.
We kick-off with a quick canter through the seven hot tips, then there's a bit more detail on our highlighted horses below that.
Don't forget to check out the racecards, results and live odds in the Planet Sport racing live centre.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly
Saturday's selections:
13:50 (Doncaster) Indication Call
14:05 (Kempton) Phantom Flight
14:25 (Doncaster) Baltimore Boy
14:40 (Kempton) Million Thanks
15:00 (Doncaster) Ehraz
15:15 (Kempton) Aztec Empire
15:35 (Doncaster) Awaal
13:50 (Doncaster) Indication Call
An intriguing Brocklesby to start the Lincoln at the Doncaster meeting with several interesting juveniles lining up, but marginal preference lies with the Karl Burke-trained Indication Call.
His dam is a half-sister to Toocoolforschool, who landed the Mill Reef for this stable, and the son of first-season sire Soldier's Call could well make a pleasing start to his racing career.
Valadero cost 250,000 euros as a yearling so must be feared, while Loaded Gun is just one other to bear in mind.
14:05 (Kempton) Phantom Flight
Phantom Flight turned into a real flag-bearer for Horton and can resume his progress in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.
A fine third in a very competitive handicap at Newmarket after beating Awaal, he then absolutely bolted up in another good race at York.
Sent off odds-on for his final outing in a Listed race at Ayr, he ran too bad to be true but one thing that has been notable since Horton started training is how well he places his horses and he has handed this one an entry in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland.
He only has 3lb to find with Charlie Appleby's Secret State, who saw his progress stall in the second half of the season.
14:25 (Doncaster) Baltimore Boy
Michael Bell's Baltimore Boy must have a chance in the Pertemps Network Spring Mile.
He races off the same mark of 90 as when an unlucky second to Raising Sand at Ascot in September.
Slowly away that day, he did well to get so close and as he was unraced at two, there should be even more to come this season.
14:40 (Kempton) Million Thanks
Million Thanks produced his best effort since joining new connections when runner-up over course and distance last month and the four-year-old gets the vote to go one better, despite receiving a 3lb rise from the handicapper.
Brains has enjoyed a productive winter, winning twice in his last four outings, and warrants plenty of respect with William Buick booked for the ride, while others to note include Naval Commander and Stately Home.
15:00 (Doncaster) Ehraz
Ehraz is given one more chance to confirm the promise he showed as a juvenile when he runs in the Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy.
Richard Hannon strongly fancied him in the Acomb but he ran no sort of race and was not seen again at two.
Last season he was running respectably, without winning, in top three-year-old sprints before being given a midsummer break.
He ended with a victory down in class when long odds-on but with that confidence boost, we may now get to see the best of him.
15:15 (Kempton) Aztec Empire
Bandinelli (2022) and Sleeping Lion (2021) have won the last two renewals of this contest and they both merit consideration.
That said, preference is for the unexposed Aztec Empire, who was an impressive winner over course and distance on just his second start in handicap company last time.
A 6lb rise will make his life tougher here but the son of Sea The Stars may have the improvement required to defy his current mark.
Duty Of Care has won his last two starts over this track and trip and he should not be underestimated on his hat-trick bid.
15:35 (Doncaster) Awaal
Just seven days on from coming agonisingly close to winning one of the richest races in the world with Algiers, Simon and Ed Crisford can land the first major handicap of the Flat season with Awaal in the Pertemps Network Lincoln.
The Doncaster feature has a rich history and this year has benefited from a substantial prize money boost with almost £80,000 to the winner, but that pales in comparison to the £5.8million Algiers would have won had he held on in the Dubai World Cup.
Nevertheless, he still picked up a cool £2m and the Crisfords proved yet again that when they aim a horse at a big race, they are never too far away.
Awaal is one of the least-experienced runners on Town Moor but when he was last seen at Redcar in October, he looked a very smart prospect indeed.
Prior to that he had been beaten less than a length by James Horton's Phantom Flight at level weights, with the winner is now rated 108.
Awaal proved he can go well fresh as he had five months off before heading to Redcar, but he was in a different league to some solid handicappers.
Raised 9lb for that, he will still need a little bit up his sleeve as he is nearly carrying top weight but the chances are this will be his last handicap for a while if he runs well.
He has drawn stall 17 which also seems a positive given five of the last eight winners have left from higher than 15, he has won on heavy ground already and five of the last six victors have been from his age bracket.
