Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster and Newbury on Saturday. View selections below.
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LORD GLITTERS (3.35) may well possess the necessary class to defy top weight in the 32Red Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.
David O’Meara gave his gelding the green light on Thursday after swithering whether to risk Lord Glitters on very soft ground so early in his campaign. Drying winds should ensure the track isn’t riding too testing and if Lord Glitters can reproduce the blistering turn of pace he used to scythe down a whole posse of rivals in the valuable Balmoral Handicap at Ascot in October he will surely be in the mix.
His second to Accidental Agent in a Heritage Handicap at Ascot in August was a sterling effort and he ended the season with another second, this time in a Listed contest at Newmarket in November. Lord Glitters, a dual winner in France at a mile, clearly goes well on a straight track and his low draw may well prove advantageous.
O’Meara also saddles last year’s winner Bravery at the bottom of the weights but more potent threats to Lord Glitters are posed by well-touted Fire Brigade, shock Cambridgeshire winner Dolphin Vista, Chelsea Lad and Addeybb.
The 32Red.com Spring Mile may throw up a clue to the effect of the draw in the Lincoln and ORIGINAL CHOICE (2.20) showed some smart form last season for William Haggas.
The four-year-old was beaten a head by Fire Brigade at Haydock in June (good to soft), conceding 3lb to the winner. Original Choice was pipped on the line by Century Dream on a return visit to Haydock in September and is only 2lb higher.
LANCELOT DU LAC (1.50) can win the first race of the new Flat turf season, the Unibet Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs.
Last year’s Stewards’ Cup hero will be fit as a flea on the back of a recent success at Wolverhampton and his Goodwood win came on soft ground. Lancelot Du Lac runs Donny well, having been placed twice in Listed company on heavy ground.
The Unibet Doncaster Mile is a tricky little Listed contest, with TABARRACK (3.00) winning a narrow vote over Zabeel Prince.
Tabarrack split Ballet Concerto and Carry On Deryck in a blanket finish to a Group 3 event at Salisbury in August and closed out the season with an excellent victory over Accidental Agent at Newbury. Richard Hannon took this race last year.
Zabeel Prince was a prolific winner for Roger Varian last campaign, with two of his successes coming on soft ground. He was put up 10lb for landing a 20-runner York handicap but should still be competitive.
The jumps card at Newbury looks trappy but if all eight runners go to post for the juvenile hurdle NIGH OR NEVER (2.40) is worth an each-way punt at around 10-1.
Rebecca Curtis has kept the four-year-old off the course since he lost out to Royale Zanzibar in a driving finish at Hereford in mid-January and the winner ran a sound race in defeat under a big weight behind Eragon De Chanay at Sandown a fortnight ago.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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