With the majority of the National Hunt season now behind us, attention turns to the flat. Some big meetings, including Newmarket‘s Guineas weekend, lie just around the corner.
Andrew uses his latest Angles column to identify some early-season angles for the 2026 flat turf season.
Trainers
Ed Walker
Ed Walker has a fine recent record with his Flat turf runners in the early months of the season (March to June) with 105 winners from 581 bets (18.1% strike-rate) since the beginning of 2021 for a profit of £123.41 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£250.36 at Betfair SP after 2% commission)…
…his latest qualifier was an 11-2 winner at Leicester yesterday (Monday, April 13th) and he has three more at Newmarket this week.
Steph Hollinshead
Steph Hollinshead has started the new season well, with Myal building on an encouraging Doncaster run over an inadequate trip to score over 7f at Thirsk last Saturday. Albeseeingyer (5-2 from 14-1) ran second at Leicester on Monday and her turf record in the month of April stands at eight winners from 62 runners for a profit of £73.50 to a £1 level stake at SP…
Charles Hills
Charles Hills’ early-season (March to April) turf runners have shown a profit in recent years, with 46 winners from 272 bets since 2022 for a profit of £64.78…
DIVINE LIBRA qualifies on this angle in the 1.50 at Newmarket tomorrow (April 15th).
Two-year-olds
January foals
Two-year-olds foaled in January have a good record in early-season (March to June) contests in Britain/Ireland, with 258 winners from 1933 bets (13.9%) since 2016 for a profit of £63.28 (+£554.35 at BSP)…
We can improve the strike-rate and profit if we only back the turf runners who had prior racecourse experience…
…BAYSIDE qualifies on this angle in the 2.50 at Beverley tomorrow (April 15th).
Individual horses
Aramram
Good record at 6f in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) with last month’s Doncaster reappearance success taking his record under such conditions to 131217222213711 (6-15) for a profit of £21.88.
Dark Thirty
Four wins from 13 starts in the March to may period for a profit of £28.50 to a £1 level stake at SP. Did too much too soon into the headwind when mid-division at Doncaster last month on his debut for John and Sean Quinn. Entered in 1.50 at Newmarket tomorrow (April 15th), a race he won two years ago when trained by Richard Hannon.
Four Adaay
Won four from 11 in the month of May, including four from five when starting as favourite.
Catherine Chroi
Veteran mare who has won six of her 20 starts from March to May, including 6f figures of 21111114 (6-8). Enjoys stiff tracks such as Hamilton, Newcastle and Leicester.
Jordan Electrics
Finished well held at Musselburgh on recent reappearance but record in March to May period after a recent run (28 days or less) stands at 40601111 (4-8) and could pop up at a nice price in the coming weeks.
Legal Reform
Southwell winner on March 13th taking record in the spring (March to May) to 62371117161231 (6-14) for a profit of £21.58 to a £1 levels take at SP.
Northcliff
Did too much too soon at Southwell the other day but usually reliable in handicap company during April/May, landing five of his 13 such starts for a profit of £34.33.
Protest Rally
Won three from 11 in the March to May period (+£6.00), improving to three from seven when returned to the track within a fortnight of his latest start.
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