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Preview of this weekend’s racing with Farringdon: March 29-30
Including races at Doncaster, Kempton and Curragh
Iberian ridden by Tom Marquand wins the Betfred Champagne Stakes during the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse, September 16, 2023

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IT IS THE start of the turf flat season at Doncaster and as per normal the opening card of eight races at the Town Moor track looks very competitive. For the first part of the season viewing the horses in the parade ring will give you a huge advantage to try and work out if a horse is truly tight fit for the new season, while those with recent all-weather outings will be ready to roll straight away.

The big race of the day, the Lincoln Handicap at 3.35, is a cracking renewal and top of the shop for me initially was top weight Galeron. He is set to make his return debut for Charlie Hills after running in some cracking races down under Annabel Neasham before which he was initially with Hills. A mile is definitely his trip and the ground looks suitable as well. But on second glance I think there are several unexposed runners that will see him off in receipt of weight.

Fourth in Autumn Stakes and then winner of the Horris Hill Stakes in 2023, ORNE hasn’t seen a lot of racing since then visiting the race track on just nine occasions, his best run arguably being his second to Inisherin in the Sandy Lane Stakes. That was over six furlongs, but both on breeding, out of an Excelebration mare and his second in a class two handicap over a mile, he should have no problem with the distance. Also the fact that John Gosden has kept him in the yard and Luke Catton takes 5lbs off his back means down to a mark of 92 he is fully 10lbs lower than last season.

The Rebirth of the African Phoenix, by Roger McKenzie
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