ITV Racing Tips: Haggas looking for Eternal success in the Lincoln

The daffodils are blooming, and the sound of newborn lambs bleats across the hillsides; sideways hail and snow storms; it must be spring, and nothing says spring more than the start of the flat season, as Doncaster hosts its Lincoln card part of Saturday’s ITV Racing coverage.

There are five contests from Town Moor, with a further three from the all-weather at Kempton for good measure, as I pick out the best bets and ITV Racing tips for Saturday, 28th March.

Horse Racing odds

Full ITV Schedule;

13:20 Doncaster - Broklesby Stakes - Class 2 (2yo) 5f

13:50 Doncaster - Cammidge Trophy Stakes - Listed Race (3yo) 6f

14:08 Kempton (AW) - Queen’s Prize Handicap - Class 2 (4yo+) 2m

14:25 Doncaster - Spring Mile Handicap - Class 2 (4yo+) 1m

14:42 Kempton (AW) - Rosebury Handicap - Class 2 (4yo+) 1m

14:57 Doncaster - Doncaster Mile Stakes - Listed Race (4yo+) 1m

15:13 Kempton (AW) - Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes - Listed Race (4yo+) 1m

15:32 Doncaster - Lincoln - Heritage Handicap (4yo+) 1m

13:20 Doncaster - A Bear Affair EW @ 9/2

Irish-trained Blixen Force heads the betting here at 7/4 for Robson De Aguair. Bought for £110k and related to a Group-placed five-furlong winner, he’s sure to be popular here for an owner who has won two of the last four runnings of this race, including this horse’s sire in 2022.

However, I like the look of A Bear Affair for Richard Hannon at 9/2 each-way. Hannon has saddled the winner of this race twice in the last four years, and this colt by Kodi Bear is bred for speed and makes appeal at the prices on debut. Sean Levey takes the ride.

13:50 Doncaster - Spycatcher EW @ 4/1

I’m hunting around the top of the market again in race two at Doncaster, fancying last year’s winner Spycatcher to get the better of regular rival Montassib. 

The pair contested the Listed Wentworth Stakes here last season, coming out on top by five lengths. He defied a penalty thanks to picking up a Group 3 win in France, and I like him to go well here again on Saturday.

We’re paying FOUR places instead of three in the 13:50.

14:08 Kempton (AW) - Brasil Power EW @ 15/2

For our third race of the afternoon, we jet down to Surrey for a nine-furlong contest on the all-weather. 

It’s another competitive-looking contest, Sir Mark Prescott saddles the 3/1 favourite Blindedbythelights, who finished runner-up in all of his last three starts.

Anniversary lines up for Ralph Beckett and Andrew Balding saddles Belgravian, both 10/3 chances.

I like the look of 15/2 chance Brasil Power for George Boughey. The seven-year-old is top-rated in the field, improved down in class last time, landing a handicap by two lengths off a three-pound lower mark at Wolverhampton.

14:25 Doncaster - Principality EW @ 11/1

A big field of 22 line up in the Spring Mile at Donny, headed by Mezcala at odds of 5/1.

I like the look of an each-way play on Principality at odds of 11/1 at Betfred.

He was below his best but in the wrong group when beaten at Newcastle last time, so can put that down to a bit of bad luck. He comes here off a 147 break and can snooker his rivals at a course where he has form and off his last winning mark. Kaiya Fraser rides for in-form trainer Harry Eustace.

We’re paying FIVE places instead of four in the Spring Mile.

14:42 Kempton (AW) - El Burhan EW @ 5/1

I’m taking El Burhan to make it a quickfire double for George Boughey back at Kempton. The 5/1 chance improved for a step up in trip when landing a handicap by two and a quarter lengths off a six-pound lower mark at Ayr last time. He should act on the all-weather and be capable of making further progress off a mark of 100.

We’re paying FOUR places instead of three in the 14:42.

14:57 Doncaster - Docklands @ 13/8

Just the five runners here, and the market makes Docklands the 13/8 favourite. Harry Eustace is a man in form, and Jamie Spencer takes the ride aboard the six-year-old who last won at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Not disgraced on subsequent appearances, which include a fourth in the QEII, he has the class to win this.

15:13 Kempton (AW) - Survie @ 11/8

For our last race at Kempton, we have a short-priced favourite in the shape of Survie, trained by our man George Boughey again, who won this race 12 months ago. The 11/8 chance finished third in a Group 2 at Riyadh in his most recent run; he has a class edge over his rivals here and has a leading chance.

15:32 Doncaster - Eternal Force EW @ 4/1

The big race of the day is the summer flat season curtain-raiser, that is, the Lincoln Handicap.

La Botte shades things at the top of the betting (10/3) for Harry Eustace, but I’m siding with the 4/1 chance Eternal Force, trained by William Haggas, who has won the race a record five times.

The four-year-old was gelded last season, which saw a switch in fortunes as he won his three subsequent races to round off the season. This included an impressive three-length win at Haydock on his last start. Cieran Fallon takes the ride for the yard, which won this race 12 months ago.

We’re paying FIVE places instead of four in the Lincoln. Good luck if you’re following!

ITV Racing tips with Betfred Insights.