The post-Cheltenham blues have finally dissipated in time as today marks the first day of the British Flat season with the Lincoln at Doncaster.
That being said, action over at Newbury for their jumps finale means National Hunt fans are also satisfied.
So, with a few fancies from both codes, let’s begin.
1:20 Doncaster – Knight @ 10/3 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Knight got the better of Charyn in the Group 2 Celebration Mile Stakes last season, so I’m hoping he can confirm the form in the opening race at Doncaster today.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s four-year-old finished second to Chindit on his penultimate start last season in the Listed Fortune Stakes at Sandown.
⭐️ Class tells in the feature – multiple Group scorer Chindit is too good in the Listed @chasemorefarm Fortune Stakes for @rhannonracing at @Sandownpark
🏇 Four runs in Listed company in his career
🏆 Four wins! pic.twitter.com/6b518h3PcN— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 20, 2023
That form looks solid as Raadobarg (3rd) finished third in the Irish Lincolnshire recently, Breege (4th) finished second in a Listed race on his next start, and Silver Sword (5th) finished second in a Group 3.
Although he disappointed on his seasonal reappearance last season, connections have applied a first-time visor to keep his mind on the job and I think he can improve past his opponents today.
2:10 Newbury – Kartoon And Co @ 15/8 with William Hill – 2pt Win
He’s well-found in the market, but Kartoon And Co looks to have a solid chance in the second race at Newbury.
Firstly, the Dan Skelton yard is in hot form having picked up 14 wins from their last 55 runners, so he has that on his side.
As for the horse, his second to Givemefive at Market Rasen three starts ago looks like good form as Givemefive was a close second to Kalif Du Berlais in a Grade 2 at Kempton.
Givemefive makes a likeable debut over jumps, coming clear with a previous winner and looking a decent juvenile for the @Harry05Derham team 🏇 @MarketRasenRace pic.twitter.com/j05jlYgoSA
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 7, 2023
Today is his second handicap start, but he was unfortunate not to win last time out as his winning effort was probably a case of too little too late.
Although he is a four-year-old, he gets 12lbs from his elders in the handicap and a racing weight of 10-2 is the lowest weight Harry Skelton has done for at least a year.
So, with all this in mind, Kartoon And Co should go well.
3:00 Doncaster – Orazio @ 10/3 with BetVictor – 1pt Win
As cliff horses go, Orazio was a big one of mine last season and unfortunately, he didn’t repay me once.
Having backed him as my Royal Ascot NAP in the Wokingham Handicap, he found the ground too quick and could only manage sixth.
Then, having backed him as my Glorious Goodwood NAP in the Stewards’ Cup, a last-minute downpour saw the ground go against him and he walked over the line.
Although he finished within three lengths of Significantly in the Ayr Gold Cup, he only finished 11th which makes me think that big-field handicaps are not his thing.
Buick on the board at @Ascot! Orazio gives @cbhills a double on the card in good style… pic.twitter.com/nYLOesrLum
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 12, 2023
It seems like connections may agree as although a mark of 100 would see him go well in any six-furlong handicap, they’ve pitched him into Listed company today against six rivals.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he is a Group horse, so today is the day we find out if he can live up to this reputation.
3:15 Newbury – Condesa @ 14/1 with BoyleSports – 1pt EW
Although she has to carry 11-11 on her back, Condesa looks well-handicapped off 123.
The eight-year-old is certainly the experienced head of the field having had over two years off the track between 2021 and 2023.
However, before her time off the track, she finished third to Party Central (now rated 140) in a bumper.
Easy as you like for Condesa as the mare returns from a mammoth 809-day absence to run out a dominant winner of the @PKAVScharity Improving Wellbeing In Perthshire Novices' Hurdle for the @crawfordbros and JJ Slevin combination 🥇 pic.twitter.com/cz9Xfn4H7r
— perthracecourse (@PerthRacecourse) July 16, 2023
After her 809 days away from the track, she bolted up by seven lengths at Perth before finishing second to Springtime Promise at Sedgefield in January; Springtime Promise has since won a Group 2 and the third from that race, Micks Jet, bolted up at Musselburgh on her next start.
The ground should suit and she has been backed.
3:35 Doncaster – Lattam @ 12/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
The Lincoln is always a tough handicap to work out, but Lattam looks like one who could run well on seasonal reappearance.
The five-year-old won the Irish Lincolnshire off a mark of 87 last season when trained by William Haggas, and although his winning margin of a short-head isn’t much, he came from the clouds and was very impressive.
Get Jerry Hannon a glass of water! 🥤
🏇 A pulsating finish to the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire gives the commentator's vocal chords a good workout. Lattam snatches the spoils under @chrishayes24 for William Haggas. pic.twitter.com/kQ3bXhdsRe
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 25, 2023
He failed to properly kick on from this early-season success, but his second to Jimi Hendrix when he was rated 94 looks like good form as the winner has now improved to a rating of 111.
He goes well fresh and he’ll like the soft ground.
3:35 Doncaster – Dutch Decoy @ 28/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
With the complexity of the Lincoln, it’s hard not to back a couple in the race and Dutch Decoy is the other one I’m keeping onside today.
Although he is on a career-high mark of 93, he looked better than ever last season and has some good form in the book.
The first race to focus on is his third to Perotto and Ouzo in the Coral Challenge Handicap at Sandown as Perotto won the Shergar Cup Mile two starts later and Ouzo has won three handicaps since, two of which over in Meydan.
Dutch Decoy stays on best to capture the Lettergold Handicap in a stirring finish! 🏆@olistammers | @Johnston_Racing | @ownersgroupuk pic.twitter.com/76NZh40k3Q
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 22, 2023
Dutch Decoy then beat Hafeet Alain and Liberty Lane at Newmarket before they went on to win and he was also a good third behind a well-handicapped Johan in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood.
He looks to have a favourable draw and a mark of 93 looks workable, so his price of 28/1 is too big to ignore.
