Betfred Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Matt Hulmes’ picks for action at Doncaster

The opening day of the turf flat season at Doncaster will be run on very testing ground, along with The Lincoln the traditional curtain raiser to kickstart the summer action.

13:20 - Charyn @ 3/1

The Doncaster Mile gets the new turf flat season underway.

Roger Varian has won three of the last seven renewals and I am siding with his CHARYN to enhance his record. He ran some solid races in Group 1 company last season, mostly on soft ground including finishing third in the Sussex. He signed off the season with a close up third, again on soft, in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and comes out best at the weights in this race.

He may face most opposition form another proven mudlark in Knight, who was ahead of him at Goodwood in that Celebration Mile but then disappointed at Newmarket and returns in a first time visor which is a small concern.

13:50 - No Bet

The Brocklesby for unraced 2yo’s always takes place on the opening day of the season. A big field will line-up and it will be a case of who can handle the testing conditions the best.

With no form to go on, it would be unwise to put up a selection on what would be a complete guess up.

14:25 - Titan @ 13/2

The Spring Mile is the consolation race for the Lincoln, for those that didn’t make the cut.

It was similarly run on heavy ground last year when TITIAN was beaten just a neck into second place, and he has plenty in his favour in an attempt to go one place better.

He handles the ground, stays further, is 2lb lower than last year, back on a last winning mark, has a stands side draw and comes from a stable in form. He also has a good record at Doncaster, his only poor run from five efforts coming on quick ground. He was a fair fifth to Lincoln favourite Liberty Lane at the Betfred St Leger meeting too and he ticks a lot of boxes.

His conqueror last year, Harswell Duke is also lining up again and is better off at the weights, but his form tailed off last season and showed little on his return last week.

15:00 - Marshman @ 7/2

The Cammidge Trophy sees seven line up for listed honours and plenty of soft ground form on offer.

Baradar has course form figures of 3131 including a third in last years Lincoln, but he successfully reverted to sprinting here at the Betfred St Leger meeting in September.

He will likely head the market while Montassib will also handle the ground and Orazio is another coming from handicaps into pattern company.

Karl Burke has always held MARSHMAN in high regard and he won his only start on soft ground in France early last season. That made it two-from-two on seasonal debut and despite not being seen since July, I expect plenty of early season targets for the sprinter. He has plenty of group race experience and is certainly the class act here against those trying to step up the ladder.

15:35 - Chazzesmee @ 9/2 & Vetiver @ 14/1

In a field of twenty-two and with extra places, I’ll take two against the field.

The last two winners of the Lincoln, Migration and Johan line-up for a second success and they are joined by the last two Irish Lincolnshire winners Lattam and Chazzesmee, the last named claiming his title only last Monday.

All four will have their followers while Paddy Bradley, who will ride Migration, has not ridden for a week as he is just a single winner away form losing his 3lb claim and wanted to take the ride om the top weight.

Of those leading players, CHAZZESMEE looks certain to run his race. He was quite a cosy winner at the Curragh and as lightly-raced progressive six-year-old on just his eleventh start and under just a 5lb penalty who will relish the ground, he should be thereabouts as long as a far side draw isn’t a negative.

I have always liked Liberty Lane and he finally justified that when winning here over the mile in September. He did then disappoint in the Cambridgeshire and is off a career high mark, so is passed over reluctantly.

The Gatekeeper was well behind Liberty Lane here in September but after finishing second in the Golden Mile, he went on to score in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day.

Back in fifth at Ascot was VETIVER on just her seventh start. She was a 3yo then but with a winter strengthening up, she could have a role to play at a decent price and in stall nine, David Probert will have choices of where to go.

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