It’s the return of the flat on Saturday 28 March as the Lincoln Handicap lights up Doncaster. Kempton will also host some quality action on the level and our resident tipster Matthew Sutcliffe is here with his best bets across the live ITV Racing.
Check out his best bets for a hugely competitive day’s racing.
Doncaster Racing Tips (Saturday 28 March)
It’s Lincoln day at Doncaster, as they host the hugely competitive 1m handicap. Matthew Sutcliffe has an eye-catching 12/1 tip for the big race.
1:50 Doncaster – William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Aramram 16/1 1pt EW 4 places
The last two winners of this contest both top the market at similar prices and deservedly so if putting their best foot forward, but they aren’t getting any younger at the age of eight and it may pay to chance Aramram, who can successfully make the voyage out of handicaps and develop into a Pattern class thoroughbred this season.
The son of Blue Point looked smart when bolting up on his three-year-old/seasonal debut in 2024, boding well for this first time out start. He took a while to come to the boil thereafter, but he was a neck winner of a course and distance handicap that season against his elders, followed by a length second in the Ayr Silver Cup.
He began last year strongly with four consecutive seconds, twice behind More Thunder who’s now rated 117. After a brief barren spell, he finished the season with a career best effort when gamely winning a 0-105 handicap at Ascot, giving 10lbs to the second.
Richard Hannon won this race in 2017 with a five-year-old, and Aramram strikes me as one who’ll progress now stepping up in class after a season of smart performances off big weights in some classy handicaps.
2:25 Doncaster – William Hill Epic Boosts Spring Mile Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) – Intrusively 20/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
Intrusively featured multiple times for the column last season with a number of frustrating efforts, but I’m hoping the stable switch to Mick Appleby’s, and the gelding operation, can spark him back to life.
He’s largely been disappointing since finishing third in the G2 Richmond Stakes as a two-year-old, but the handicapper did him no favours raising him 19lbs. That said, he was a more than credible fifth here in the valuable 2yo Stakes at the St Leger meeting.
He retuned last season after wind surgery on a mark of 97, and caught the eye at Newcastle when finishing on the bridle in sixth having suffered for room throughout. His form was inconsistent thereafter, but he fared best of those to the fore of the race early on in a 0-95 course and distance handicap on heavy ground, staying on all the way to the line.
He’s now 12lbs lower than last years seasonal debut, and I suspect the gelding operation should bring our further improvement. Mick Appleby is profitable to follow in course handicaps over the last five seasons, with a return of £37.00 to a £1 stake, and he’s clearly capable of going well fresh.
3:32 Doncaster – William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Tribal Chief 12/1 1pt EW 6 places
Slow starts are the achilles heel of Tribal Chief, but that might not be a huge negative here as the Lincoln can favour those patiently ridden.
He has a productive campaign last term, finishing a three length second to Bullet Point on seasonal debut who subsequently finished second in the Royal Hunt Cup, before landing the valuable Clipper Handicap at York, now rated 16lbs higher.
He couldn’t quite land a blow in his next three starts, but he posted an impressive performance at Goodwood when charging down the outside from rear to win a shade cosily. The second there won snugly next time out and is now rated 10lbs higher, and the third also won two starts later.
He was far from disgraced when a four length second in the Balmoral on his last start, and a mark of 93 could well underestimate him this season. His form fresh reads well, and his ability to handle any ground further bodes well.
Kempton Racing Tips (Saturday 28 March)
Three races take place in front of the ITV cameras from Kempton Park on Saturday, with Matthew’s sole selection running in the 2.08pm event.
2:08 Kempton – Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) – Blindedbythelights 3/1 1pt WIN
It’s perhaps a concern that Blindedbythelights is 0-4 on the all-weather, but there are plausible excuses to be made for those runs and his penultimate effort at Newcastle when upped to two miles for the first time and in first time Cheek-pieces was a joint-career best at the time.
He’s winless since taking a Newbury Handicap off 20lbs lower in 2023, but he’s only been seen six times since with form figures of 224222. His last effort when beaten a length by 5/4F Many Men at Ascot has worked out very well, as the winner, who he was giving plenty of weight away to, was a nose second in the Melrose at York next time out now rated 15lbs higher. The third there won next time out in a Class 2, and the fourth subsequently won three on the spin.
While his tendency to succumb to one better handicapped is concern, he looks well in himself off a mark of 88 and his ability to go well fresh (won from a similar break in 2023) is a big plus.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:50 Doncaster – William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Aramram 16/1 1pt EW 4 places
2:25 Doncaster – William Hill Epic Boosts Spring Mile Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) – Intrusively 20/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
3:32 Doncaster – William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Tribal Chief 12/1 1pt EW 6 places
2:08 Kempton – Virgin Bet Queen’s Prize Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) – Blindedbythelights 3/1 1pt WIN
BlindedbythelightsMatty Sutcliffe’s Top Tips – Saturday 28 March
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Doncaster & Kempton on Saturday 28 March.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 9.35am on Friday 27 March.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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