22 March 2024 , 17:04
986
0
Latch on to THE GATEKEEPER in the William Hill Lincoln Handicap (3.35) as the 2024 Flat season gets underway at Doncaster on Saturday.
The new campaign’s curtain-raiser demands the ability to perform over a straight mile in a big field and, with plenty of juice underfoot on Town Moor, to cope with rain-softened ground.
The Charlie Johnston-saddled son of Excelebration ticked every one of those boxes on QIPCO Champions Day at Ascot last October, when he lifted the Balmoral Handicap by a length from Ropey Guest.
The Gatekeeper hasn’t been out since then, but his ability to produce his best after a break is not in question - Joe Fanning’s mount scored at Musselburgh on his racecourse debut in April 2021 and at Newcastle last March on the back of a 625-day lay-off.
Fanning is back in the saddle after a spill at Wolverhampton last month and The Gatekeeper is fancied to defy a career-high mark of 100 and pocket the £77,310 first prize.
Look Back Smiling is fancied to make a winning return to the fray in the William Hill Epic Boost Spring Mile Handicap (2.25) at Doncaster.
Gemma Tutty’s son of Fast Company won three of his 18 starts during a busy 2023 - he the frame on a further 10 occasions - and finished off on a high with a length-and-three-quarter victory over Astral Spirit on Town Moor at the end of October.
That race was run over seven furlongs but my selection has shown his form at a mile and Brandon Wilkie’s 7lb claim is a big plus as Look Back Smiling seeks to overcome a 3lb rise in the weights for his latest victory.
Bernice Blackstock suffers new blow in Emmerdale as she struggles with illness
A drop to Listed level is expected to do the trick for CHARYN in the William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes (1.20).
A Group 2 winner as a two-year-old, the Roger Varian-saddled son of Dark Angel kept decent company last year - five of his seven races came at the highest level.
Third to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at the start of August, Charyn again took the bronze medal behind Angel Bleu in the Group 2 Celebration Mile on the Sussex Downs 24 days later.
A reproduction of either effort will put Silvestre De Sousa’s partner in the firing line.
The other Listed contest on the card, the William Hill Cammidge Trophy (3.00), represents a good opportunity for MARSHMAN to make a winning return to the fray.
The William Hill EBF Brocklesby Stakes (1.50) is a guessing game, but INDICATION EMBER makes as much appeal on paper as any of the 15 debutants.
At Newbury, PARTY VIBES looks ripe for the hat-trick in the Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor "National Hunt" Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (3.15).
Mahler’s daughter arrives on the back of scores in novice hurdles for mares at Wincanton and Market Rasen and has the untapped potential to improve past her British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 121.
Also in search of the threesome is EATON COLLINA, who has more to offer against six opponents for the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Handicap Chase (2.40).
Having marked his debut in the sphere with a second at Sandown Park a fortnight ago, KARTOON AND CO is poised to exploit a step up in trip for the Bet In-Play On Racing With BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2.10).
Stalking terror rocks Coronation Street as barmaid targeted
The ITV4 cameras are also rolling at Bangor-On-Dee, where PICKANUMBER has plenty going for him in the Dragonbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle (1.30).
DONCASTER
1.20 CHARYN (NAP)
1.50 INDICATION EMBER
2.25 LOOK BACK SMILING
3.00 MARSHMAN
3.35 THE GATEKEEPER (NB)
4.10 HARPER’S FERRY
4.45 MOONLIT CLOUD
5.20 FEN TIGER
BANGOR-ON-DEE
1.30 PICKANUMBER
2.00 WHAT A JOHNNY
2.30 MONTGOMERY
3.05 ONE LAST GLANCE
3.40 GRAND ALBERT
4.15 IRON D’EX
NEWBURY
1.40 CANNOCK PARK
2.10 KARTOON AND CO
2.40 EATON COLLINA
3.15 PARTY VIBES
3.50 REGENT’S STROLL
4.25 ONEMOREFORTHEROAD
5.00 CROSSPARK
NAVAN
2.17 UNION STATION
2.50 INSTANT TENDANCE
3.25 ICEBERG THEOR
3.58 TWOOHTHREE
4.33 BATTLE IT OUT
5.08 DOUBLE SCHULTZ
5.38 HARBOUR HIGHWAY
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.05 WAIT AND HOPE
4.40 KINGS MERCHANT
5.15 MARITIME LADY
5.45 MAMALOUKA
6.15 LAHEG
6.45 SISTERS IN THE SKY
7.15 ADMIRABLE LAD
7.45 SNOOZE LANE
8.15 CRAFTER
NEWCASTLE
4.55 REAL TERMS
5.30 NIGHT BEAR
6.00 PRINCE ACHILLE
6.30 BOLSENA
7.00 ZIGGY’S MISSILE
7.30 SIOBHANBROGAN
8.00 BONITO CAVALO
DOUBLE: CHARYN and THE GATEKEEPER