ITV Racing Preview for 29 March – Lincoln & Rosebery Handicap Headline Doncaster & Kempton Cards

The British Flat turf season gets underway this Saturday, 29 March, in front of the ITV Racing cameras at Doncaster. Supporting the action on Town Moor is All-Weather action from Kempton Park.

Taking centre stage in Yorkshire is the Lincoln Handicap, a big-field Heritage Handicap so oversubscribed that there’s a consolation race taking place earlier on the card. Doncaster also have a couple of Listed races.

At Kempton, meanwhile, the Queen’s Prize and Rosebery Handicap represents the most competitive events on show. The Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes, which also holds Listed status, is also part of the card.

Taking place between the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National, two big National Hunt meetings, this Flat action gives punters something different on horse racing betting sites to wager on. While there’s only last season’s or All-Weather winter form to go on, that doesn’t stop our experts.

They can still take a view on the best of the racing from Town Moor and Sunbury-on-Thames. You can read their thoughts on seven races live on terrestrial television below…

ITV Racing Preview for 29 Match from Doncaster & Kempton

1:50 Doncaster – 1m Spring Mile Handicap (Class 2)

Consolation races are always tricky, but last year’s winner LOOK BACK SMILING is actually 1lb lower than when successful. He is also better off at the weighs with re-opposing second and third Thunder Roar and Arthur’s Realm from 12 months ago.

With Brandon Wilkie again aboard and taking 5lb off with his claim, Gemma Tutty’s Look Back Smiling has good claims of retaining his crown from a middle draw. There are new dangers for this well-weighted five-year-old to consider, however.

Chief among them is Ed Bethell’s course and distance winner Naepoint, drawn two higher than Look Back Smiling. He won three of his four final starts last season and handles softer going. The bookies also fear Coolmore castoff Ocean Of Dreams, a handicap debutant for Archie Watson who could be anything in first-time cheekpieces.

Ed Dunlop inmate Pressure’s On is 1lb well-in, but Our Havana carries a 5lb penalty for Oisin Orr and Richard Fahey. Myal notched a four-timer from August to October, meanwhile, so commands respect if picking up where he left off. Lower down the handicap, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Spirit Of Acklam ran well with connections fitting him with cheekpieces also.

2:05 Kempton – 2m Queen’s Prize Handicap (0-100) (Class 2)

First on ITV Racing from the Greater London track is this staying race with lots of course form on display. If Irish raider JABBAR can reproduce his best form at home in the UK, then he looks each-way value. Punters must forgive him his last run at Dundalk when he trailed in last but, prior to that, he had run consistently.

Jabbar has the eye-catching jockey booking of Jamie Spencer, so a hold-up ride looks very much on the cards. A gelding operation could be the making of Kamboo, meanwhile, as Richard Hughes rolled the dice with him and ran him in The Derby last summer. He is 2-3 on the All-Weather.

Kamboo is 11lb better off with Who’s Glen from his Newcastle victory, so Andrew Balding’s runner has it to do at the revised weights. Of the three course and distance winners in the line-up, meanwhile, Cool Party could have the most upside here.

This is because Golden Rules tries to defy a racecourse absence of 637 days and will surely need the run. Alrazeen hit a hat-trick over the winter, meanwhile, but may now be in the grip of the handicapper based on his beaten favourite display around Southwell. Veteran pair Metier and Tritonic don’t have any improvement in them.

2:25 Doncaster – 6f Cammidge Trophy (Listed)

What a finish! 👏

Montassib catches Marshman on the line to win the William Hill Cammidge Trophy Stakes! 🥇#ITVRacing | @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/ZC4BFuLJhp

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 23, 2024

Like so many black type sprints on ITV Racing over the season to come, this is competitive. Clive Cox inmate James’s Delight was ante-post favourite, but Karl Burke duo MARSHMAN and Spycatcher appeal more. The former is race-fit from the All-Weather and steps back up in trip after running over the minimum distance last time.

Marshman went down by a neck in this very race 12 months to subsequent Haydock Sprint Cup hero Montassib. He wants the cut in the ground you get at this time of year. Spycatcher, meanwhile, has the beating of James’s Delight on Deauville and Ascot form. James Doyle now takes the ride.

Of the others, Witness Stand may find this straight 6f a little sharp and Al Shabab Storm is a Chester specialist. More interesting is Iberian each-way with Charlie Hills’ 2023 Champagne Stakes winner back at the scene of his greatest triumph. He just got up at Southwell on reappearance and that course form from the season before last still reads well.

2:40 Kempton – 1m 3f Rosebery Handicap (0-105) (Class 2)

Marco Botti could provide the answer to another ITV Racing puzzle in lightly-raced bottom weight CALUMET. He looks worth an each-way punt on two previous seconds over a mile at Kempton. Calumet also shaped like this trip was within his company when storming to Windsor success and subsequently finishing third around Yarmouth.

In a wide-open contest, nominal market leaders Mount Atlas and Balmacara look handicapped up to their best. The former’s 4lb rise for a well-beaten Old Rowley Cup second in the autumn looks harsh. Andrew Balding runs two others and dual course winner Teumessias Fox could be alternative value.

Max Mayhem won this very race two years ago; so, despite being a lot higher in the weights, commands respect after a recent victory at Meydan. It would also be foolish to ignore another Middle East campaigner in Killybegs Warrior, second here 12 months ago off 11lb higher. Paradias just did enough when landing his last start over course and distance, so may find following-up difficult.

3:00 Doncaster – 1m Doncaster Mile (Listed)

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has a strong hand on ITV Racing for this mile event courtesy of Liberty Lane and Botanical. It might be worth chancing DANCING GEMINI against them, though, as he ran a blinder on reappearance last term when runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas.

An impressive course winner of the Flying Scotsman as a juvenile, Roger Teal’s charge wasn’t up to Classic standard. At this much lower level, however, his sixth in The Derby and fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes both read pretty well.

With the going a concern for Point Lynas, who has race fitness on his side, and Witch Hunter needing everything to collapse pace wise in front of him, this is a trappy contest. It may be difficult to keep Liberty Lane and Botanical out of the frame.

3:15 Kempton – 1m Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)

Ratings topper Soprano has plenty in hand on official figures, but is this easy mile around a bend any good to her? There may be others on ITV Racing better suited to the course than George Boughey’s Royal Ascot Sandringham Stakes heroine. That victory over the straight mile asks a lot more of her than the nippy nature of Kempton Park.

One who could be worth chancing against Soprano is John & Thady Gosden’s American import CRIMSON ADVOCATE. A filly by Nyquist, she should have sufficient stamina for this test and has plenty of speed. Crimson Advocate also won at Royal Ascot, but over 5f when landing the 2023 Queen Mary.

Shuwari looked smart as a juvenile, but hasn’t raced in 533 days. Ollie Sangster’s charge will surely strip fitter for the run. The others all have ratings in the mid-to-low 90s and worse. The field needs the three market principals to underperform, not stay or blow up fitness wise, otherwise their marks are a nonsense.

3:35 Doncaster – 1m Lincoln Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Thunder Run heads a field of 22 set to go to post in the Lincoln at @DoncasterRaces on Saturday!

Mr Professor returns to defend his crown, can he defy the trends and win it for the second year in a row? pic.twitter.com/caCHyFcnzU

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 27, 2025

The first big Flat handicap on ITV Racing this year could go to last year’s runner-up LATTAM. Many have claims, of course, but Julie Camacho’s charge is 2lb higher than 12 months ago and when filling the same spot in the Balmoral Handicap in the autumn. Lattam is there or thereabouts, especially on soft surfaces. It might be his turn to get his head in front from the same stall as Migration won out of in 2023.

Drawn next to Lattam is Midnight Gun, who also has a course and distance second to his name. A 5lb higher mark for a length defeat on Town Moor on his latest outing makes life tougher, but he could still have improvement in him. Wathnan Racing’s retained rider James Doyle chooses Midnight Gun over Native Warrior, who has a wide draw.

Irish Lincolnshire hero Orandi needed a 5lb penalty for winning at the Curragh to get in here for Tony Martin. That race-fitness edge could be key. David Menuisier persists with Toimy Son, who definitely has a big pot in him, and books 5lb claimer Warren Fentiman.

At a big price, Fantastic Fox might get the straight mile trip, but like Apiarist seems better on the All-Weather. Last year’s winner Mr Professor and fourth home Alpha Crucis are worse off with Lattam. Thunder Run is nominal favourite for Karl Burke, but needed his reappearance last term and finished behind the selection at Ascot.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee