Rolling the dice on Day 1 of the flat season....

Friday, 28th March 2025

Rolling the dice on Day 1 of the flat season….

Avoid pay-as-you-go-tipsters – here’s why….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the big weekend handicaps….

The Lincoln is the feature at Doncaster tomorrow….

…. the off time is 3.35….

…. and my pick of the prices is LATTAM at 12s….

I’m also on MYAL in the Spring Mile at 1.50 – he’s up at 12s….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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A change of pace this weekend….

…. with the feature handicaps provided by the opening meeting of the 2025 flat season up at Doncaster….

There’s little or no form in the book….

…. fitness must be taken on trust – to a large extent….

…. underfoot conditions are a little different to how they will be in the midsummer – the flat season proper….

…. and with a long season stretching out in front of us this meeting will be a mere starting point for many….

That said – in terms of the betting – the drill remains the same for me….

It’s about taking on the favourites and the heavily fancied horses….

…. and digging out underestimated contenders that can run big races at decent prices….

The big race on the Doncaster card is the Lincoln at 3.35….

…. and I’m backing LATTAM at the general 12s….

16 of the last 22 winners were aged 4 or 5 so this 6yo is an against the grain pick….

…. but he goes very well fresh – his form figures off breaks of 100+ days read 1/27; 2/20; 2/20….

…. and he produced the first of those runner-up finishes in last year’s renewal of this race – when he was unlucky….

…. meeting multiple instances of trouble in running when looking to charge on and make his challenge in the later stages….

He’s 2lb higher in the rankings this time around – but I don’t see that as a bother….

…. and if trainer Julie Camacho has him in the kind of shape he turned up here in last term, then he will go close….

There’s not much obvious pace in the Lincoln….

…. and it’s anybody’s guess who will blaze away in front in the Spring Mile earlier on the card (1.50)….

In my mind’s eye I see the field taking on an arrow shape early doors – given that most horses that like to race prominently are drawn up the middle of the track….

…. MYAL will be in the thick of that for trainer Steph Hollinshead – and he’s the pick at the general 12s….

He won four on the bounce between August & October last term – rising from 67 to his current perch of 90 on the official scale….

There’s more to come yet – especially stepped up to the mile tomorrow….

…. he’s shown how versatile he is in terms of underfoot conditions – winning on fast ground and heavy….

…. and I can’t imagine his appearance at Doncaster over 7f at the back end of last season was anything other than a looksee for a crack at the Lincoln….

He just missed out on making the field for the more valuable race – but he’s surely a big player in this race up against lesser opposition….

I think he’s well-handicapped, primed for this meeting, and set to run a big one at a decent price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week – when the focus will be Aintree’s 3-day Grand National fixture….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd