Join us for Foreign Fridays as we break down the biggest races from Doncaster Racetrack this Saturday! We’ve got top-class action, including competitive handicaps and prestigious stakes races.
🔹 Race 2 – Spring Mile Handicap – Who thrives in this early-season test?
🔹 Race 3 – Cammidge Trophy Stakes – Speedsters battle it out!
🔹 Race 4 – Doncaster Mile Stakes – Classy milers take center stage.
🔹 Race 5 – Lincoln Handicap – The feature race, a heritage classic!
🔹 Race 7 – Apprentice Handicap – Young riders get their chance to shine!
Doncaster Racecourse (Free Past Performances)
Doncaster Racecourse Horse Racing Picks
22 to 1 Tom’s Doncaster Picks and Comments
Race 2
William Hill Top Price Guarantee Spring Mile Handicap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m
5 – Ocean of Dreams
Very lightly raced horse verse the rest of the field. Won the heavy going at Leopardstown in a maiden in 2023. He returned in a group race last year and ran last of five by too many lengths, then went off the favorite in the June race and ran second. Holly Doyle to ride and just an interesting placement for the start of 2025.
7 – Debora’s Dream
He ran on the all-weather track and finished fourth at a longer distance. He has won at this distance and was gelded before this start. The distance and conditions suit him; it is more a matter of the right level.
3 – Empirestateofmind
He ran three times this year, with a second-place finish in a class three handicap being his best effort. He won a class two race at this distance at York. In his last race, he struggled a bit but kept trying. Returning to the turf with soft ground helps.
Considered:
4 – Spirit Genie
9 – Farasi Lane
19 – Pearl Eye
11 – Arthur’s Realm
8 – Naepoint
Race 3
William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f
2 – Witness Stand
Toss the last race in Bahrain, where he was overmatched in a group two race and finished dead last. He ran this distance once and placed third. He’s won at seven furlongs on soft ground, and it’s an interesting move to try him here after the last race. He has a good rider and offers a perfect price.
3 – Al Shabab Storm
His first start of the season was a third-place finish on the all-weather, but his wins have all come at six furlongs and on good-to-soft ground. With a race in hand, we can expect a top effort today following the last race.
1 – Marshman
He should be the favorite in the race and has won at this distance. He’s performed well on all-weather surfaces and now returns to soft turf, where he has faced top competitors like Believing and Bradsell. This type of race at the proper distance suits him.
Considered:
4 – Iberian
5 – James’s Delight
Race 4
William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m
3 – Dancing Gemini
In his final race, he finished fourth behind Charyn (the top miler from last year) at Ascot in a Group One. He tried and failed against the best 3-year-olds the previous season, except for a second-place finish at Longchamp in a Group One. Will he break through this year as a top miler? This is a solid place to start.
8 – Witch Hunter
He has participated in two races this season. He showed little in the first race, but he missed the break in the second and came along on the inside to secure second place. This was a listed race on the all-weather track. He has only won four times in his 37-race career, with a handicap victory at Royal Ascot at 50-1 being the highlight, and he has placed ten times in stakes races. It may favor him for the win if he shows up today in the right distance and condition.
4 – Liberty Lane
He should be the favorite and come into the race off a layoff. He ran second in his last race and won the race at York in the previous start in his final two races of 2024. He ran in the Lincoln last year, and they opted for this race this year, and he will be the one to beat.
Considered:
6 – Point Lynas
1 – Botanical
Race 5
William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+) 1m
17 – Alpha Crucis
Since switching trainers, he has two wins and other strong performances, finishing unplaced but close at the end. The race I highlight from last year is when he moved up in class, from class four to class two, and won at Goodwood on the soft ground at this distance. They tried him at longer distances, but his success stems from his four wins, with two victories accomplished at one mile on soft ground. He finished fourth in this race last year and is my choice for this season. The post position is a concern.
19 – Orandi
He won last time out in his debut for 2025 at the Curragh on soft ground, competing against 26 horses. He was held back, switched to the near side, and made a winning run. Since last August, he has finished the money in all seven races. This is the second start for this trainer, and I will gain some notice again among the bettors.
1 – Galeron
He’s only won twice in his career, and both victories were when he was a 2-year-old. Since then, he’s been competing in group races, achieving a couple of placings, before being shipped to Australia, where he performed well in several handicap races. Now, he is back with his trainer in the UK and is resuming racing in these events. I’m very curious about this, so I have him finishing in the money.
Considered:
21 – Dashing Darcey
5 – Two Tempting
13 – Mr. Professor
16 – Godwinson
18 – Native Warrior
Race 7
William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Apprentice Handicap (Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars) Cl5 (4yo+ 0-70) 1m2f
5 – Bashful
He has run over the hurdles in his last three races, achieving two wins and a second place. He won four times in his flat career and five times over the hurdles, placing in fourteen of his races. He has form over many of these other horses and enjoys the conditions; it’s just a matter of whether he can get the distance. He has bounced between class four and five races for most of his career.
12 – Freddy Robinson
He’s run in some hurdle races (four) this year, with a second being the best result. He’s been better on the flats in the past with only one win but has placed seven times from fifteen starts. He was poorly distanced in his last start, but returning to the flats is the way to better success. Win? Unlikely.
7 – Aim For The Moon
His first run this year was at Kempton on the all-weather, where he finished second. He also ran in December and came in third. His only win was on the flat from five starts, and with his current form, he will have enough to secure a placing in this race.
Rich’s Doncaster Ranks and Analysis
Race 2: William Hill Bet £10 Get £10 Spring Mile Handicap
13 – SURREY SHADOW – never a bad race in 4 – could like more distance today
8 – NAEPOINT – All or Nothing at the distance 5/3-0-0 – won lone Doncaster trip
20 – LOOK BACK SMILING – first up record works – winner 2/5 at Doncaster
1 – THUNDER ROAR – gut feel horse – last two were horrible – bounce back at a track where he has a win with two seconds on three races
Race 3: William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Cammidge Trophy Stakes
5 – JAMES’S DELIGHT – looks like most obvious choice – 5/2 would be a deal IMO
4 – IBERIAN – won lone trip at Doncaster – returned to form in last race with jy Jason Watson riding and he is on again
2 – WITNESS STAND – resume says strong effort coming in 2nd up
1 – MARSHMAN – in good form on AW right now – does have a 2nd by a neck on Doncaster turf
Race 4: William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes
1 – BOTANICAL – fires in 1st ups and ITM 6/7 on grass
6 – POINT LYNAS – 2nd in a Group 2 last out – chance to be better in round 2 off the sidelines
7 – SAVVY VICTORY – a pair of 2nd at Doncaster in 2 races, place & show in 2 at the distance
3 – DANCING GEMINI – definitely been running against tougher
Race 5: William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap)
4 – THUNDER RUN – no bad efforts in six races
16 – GODWINSON – runs his best off the bench – today or bust
21 – DASHING DARCEY – another that first 1st up – only 1 clunker in last 10
22 – OLD COCK – all or nothing defined 6/3-0-0 – but two of the Ohs were 4ths
Race 7: William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Apprentice Handicap
17 – LIFE ON THE ROCKS – it’s the right distance for sure – 11/5-0-4 all others 22/1-2-4
7 – AIM FOR THE MOON – as consistent as any in this group – probably best after some rest
1 – BULLDOG SPIRIT – won his only trip at Doncaster – fairly sharp AW outing in 1st 2025 race
11 – MARIOENTO – trying turf for the first time in 7th career start – form is there now
