The British flat turf season begins officially on Saturday afternoon. Doncaster hosts the first major card of the season, which includes a couple of Listed races and the thrilling Lincoln handicap.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Doncaster | Bill Turner Memorial EBF Brocklesby Stakes (A Novice Stakes) 5f |
| 1:50pm | Doncaster | Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed Race) 6f |
| 2:08pm | Kempton | Queen's Prize Handicap (London Stayers' Series Qualifier) 2m |
| 2:25pm | Doncaster | Spring Mile Handicap (Class 2) 1m |
| 2:42pm | Kempton | Rosebery Handicap (London Middle Distance Series Qualifier) 1m3f |
| 2:57pm | Doncaster | Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed Race) 1m |
| 3:13pm | Kempton | Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) 1m |
| 3:32pm | Doncaster | Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) 1m |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 28th March
1:20pm Doncaster - Brocklesby Stakes Tips
Given that the Brocklesby is for unraced two-year-olds, anything you back is a punt, so I don't see the point in chancing one at a short price. Of those sitting at double-figure odds, STEP TO GLORY (16/1) interests me most.
Dylan Cunha won this race two years ago with Zminiature, who came out of the same stall nine that Step To Glory will spring from on Saturday. Cunha's runner is out of an unraced Kodiac filly, and his sire, Cotai Glory has produced plenty of speedy juveniles down the years. Marco Ghiani jumps into the saddle this weekend, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Step To Glory run well.
1:50pm Doncaster - Cammidge Trophy Stakes Tips
JAMES'S DELIGHT (8/1) was backed into 3/1 favouritism for last year's Cammidge Trophy. Rossa Ryan managed to find a nice early position from stall one, but was badly hampered by the wayward Iberian with a furlong to travel, which put a halt to any momentum he was trying to build up.
Clive Cox's five-year-old went on to win the Grade Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh in May, beating Lethal Levi and course-specialist Big Gossey. Clifford Lee's mount then finished last of the 17 runners in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, before another poor showing in the Champions Sprint at Ascot.
James's Delight clearly isn't a Group One-quality sprinter, but is more than capable of scoring at this level. Cox's star loves a bit of juice in the ground, and PJ McDonald is a previous winning rider in this Listed contest.
2:08pm Kempton - Queen's Prize Handicap Tips
I have little interest in betting on the all-weather, let alone a two-mile handicap. I'll pass this one over.
2:25pm Doncaster - Spring Mile Handicap Tips
In the Spring Mile, I'm interested to see how INTRUSIVELY (16/1) runs on his first start for Mick Appleby.
Intrusively was campaigned mainly as a sprinter by Ed Bethell during the early stages of his career. On his second start over seven furlongs, Bethell's four-year-old ran in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and ended up running over a mile, finishing a decent fourth behind Desperate Dan here at Doncaster in October.
Intrusively was switched to Mick Appleby's yard in January, and was gelded a month later. Appleby has often drawn immediate improvement out of his recruits, and Rab Havlin's mount proved in October that he could handle this track, this trip and softer ground.
2:42pm Kempton - Roseberry Handicap Tips
Nothing for me in this handicap either.
2:57pm Doncaster - Doncaster Mile Stakes Tips
This might be the first time that the reigning Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes winners have made their reappearances at Doncaster. Docklands maintained his form after that Ascot win, but has never really won away from that venue. Qirat went off at 150/1 when winning at Glorious Goodwood, and was soundly beaten on his next three starts.
VOLTERRA (5/1) beat Qirat comfortably when the two met in the Challenge Cup in October 2024. Kevin Ryan's charge was then narrowly beaten in the John Of Gaunt Stakes, before rounding off a curtailed campaign with two placed efforts in Listed races over seven furlongs.
Ryan's five-year-old does stay a mile well, and has produced most of his best performances on rain-softened ground. If the two Group One winners are just here for an early-season spin, then he could be the one to capitalise.
3:13pm Kempton - Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes Tips
I give all-weather handicaps a wide berth, but I don't mind betting in the pattern races. The top two in the market are miles clear of the rest in this Listed race, and the strongest form over a mile belongs to CATHEDRAL (3/1).
Cathedral finished no worse than fifth in six strong races last season. David Egan's mount placed fourth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was only beaten two lengths in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown - on what was her first start for Kevin Philippart De Foy.
De Foy's recruit rounded off her campaign with an excellent fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. I'd be surprised if Cathedral didn't have more eight-furlong speed than the strong-staying Survie, and 3/1 looks to be a price worth taking.
3:32pm Doncaster - Lincoln Handicap Tips
Read our free guide to the 2026 Lincoln to get the latest odds, key trends and our best betting tips.
Visit our Lincoln Handicap Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.