ITV Racing Tips: Three To Back On Saturday As Flat Returns

The flat is back this weekend as Lincoln Day at Doncaster takes centre stage on ITV Racing, with some all-weather contests at Kempton thrown in for good measure. Billy Grimshaw has cast his beady eye over the cards and likes the chances of three at decent prices...

13:50 Doncaster - Cammidge Trophy

The flat racing fans will be rejoicing when the Brocklesby begins half an hour before this race, but to say I have no opinion in that two year old opener would be an understatement. A bunch of unraced two year olds running for trainers having merely a couple of runners apiece over the last few weeks? Pass.

It is hard to be really strong on anything at this strange juncture in the year when the flat begins, then pauses, before seemingly beginning again post Aintree, but I did think JAMES'S DELIGHT was unlucky to finish fifth when 3/1 fav in this race last season and at a standout best price of 8/1 with BOYLE Sports at the time of writing, four places, he rates a fair each-way play. I doubt he'd have troubled last year's winner upon rewatching the race - blimey, it feels weird studying flat races again - but he would almost certainly have bagged backers some place returns had he not met serious traffic problems when winding up for his final thrust. There is also an argument he was disadvantaged by the draw and pulling keenly too, so with all the excuses he'll do for me.

He will of course have to beat the last two winners of this race in defending champion Spycatcher and favourite Montasib, the 2024 winner. I'd favour the latter named to reverse form from the last time that duo clashed, but with both now eight I would worry something will improve past them both. James's Delight is only five and sprinters do seem to improve at a different rate than the middle distance hoses, so while he does have something to find with the top two I'm confident he can. Clive Cox's form certainly wouldn't put you off him, either. His record fresh, first, first and the aforementioned fifth in this last year, is another feather in his cap too.

The draw is something I've not missed worrying about while in jumps mode and I'd prefer to be middle to high here, which is a negative for favourite Montasib in one. James's Delight has made all before but I suspect it'll be Art Power and Myal jousting for the lead here and with that pair in 7 & 9 respectively the wide draw in 12 for my pick should be fine so long as they give him a decent toe into the race and don't provide blockages as he encountered in 2025.

14:08 Kempton

This could be a race with a very interesting first few furlongs as I am not sure who will win the battle for the early lead. Blindedbythelights heads the market and has almost always led in his races, but seemed last season at least to have a bad case of seconditis and I could not be backing him in a race with such a potentially competitive pace battle at around 3/1. Sir Mark Prescott is well known for his horses coming to the boil slowly as the season progresses, too, and although I'm sure his horse will be ready for this it won't be the be all end all. 

Once described confidently by his trainer as the better juvenile compared to East India Dock, LAVENDER HILL MOB has been somewhat disappointing for James Owen but when the five year old is good, he's very good. I think he is the horse that'll eventually win the battle for the early lead and while he is a real speedball over jumps, sometimes seemingly not even quite seeing out two miles, on the level he seems to be able to lead a tiny bit more intelligently. If Mason Paatel does get to the front in this race I am anticipating he'll attempt to stretch his rivals and while there could be one stalking and pouncing, I do think this lad will stay the trip even if run at an honest clip the whole way.

Trojan Storm is another who will surely be prominent but he runs from out of the weights here and was resoundingly put in his place last time out, while Belgravian is the chief threat I worry about for Lavender Hill Mob. Versatile in terms of his placing in the race and with another winter behind him now surely an even stronger stayer, I do not want to see Jason Watson cruiising behind my fancy as if he is I'm in no doubt he'll have the pace to go past. Nevertheless, at double figures compared to the 3/1 on offer for that Balding rival, the value play is obvious and it is Lavender Hill Mob.

14:57 Doncaster

I love Docklands as a horse and there is no doubt in my mind he's the best horse in this race, but this absolutely stinks of a prep run for the Ascot specialist and with his patchy record on seasonal debut throughout his career, he has to be taken on at around the 11/8 mark. If I get out my crystal ball for a moment I foresee him coming with a thundering late charge but not quite getting going fast enough to take this, which I'm sure would be absolutely dandy for his connections. The question is, then, who to take him on with and I've come down on the side of VOLTERRA.

That could be a daft decision given we have a Sussex Stakes winner in here in Qirat but he's a horse I've never been able to warm to. Additionally, he could be on the same sort of schedule as Docklands if connections think he can be aimed at the biggest prizes again this year so may not be on his A-Game for this. Volterra and connections, on the other hand, will see this Listed prize as an eminently winnable race and one that could be a highlight of his CV when all is said and done and given he looks most likely to lead to me and his ground versatility, I wonder if Kevin Stott will attempt a bold move in going wire to wire.

Should he roll the dice and try this I have absolutely no stamina concerns and this is just the sort of race in which you see one of the lesser lights sometimes steal it from the front end given the chasers may not be given the toughest of times in attempting to reel him in .Kevin Ryan is hardly in great form, with just one win from seventeen, but this is not the time of year to be too hung up on that sort of thing and with this undoubtedly a big day for Volterra he'll do for me.