Racing Tips: Ballard Down can get up in the Lincoln Handicap
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Tips for Saturday’s ITV Racing
The flat racing season takes its bow at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon as 22-runners go to post in the Lincoln Handicap.
Michael Bell’s charge Fire Brigade has been backed into favouritism for the renewal after punters latched onto Ryan Moore’s impressive performance at the meeting last year.
The jockey landed a treble 12 months ago and is booked to ride the favourite in the feature this time around. The Coral News Team, however, think there may be a shock on the cards.
There are tips for that race, two others from Doncaster and three from a jumps card at Newbury, in this weekend’s tips…
Lincoln winners rarely come at a single-figure price. Only three favourites have got home first since 2002, while double-figure runners have succeeded in the last seven renewals. With that in mind, it could pay to look slightly further down the card.
One that leaps off the page is Ballard Down. William Knight’s charge won twice and was runner-up twice in five starts last season. His last victory at Newmarket came at the expense of subsequent Grade 3 winner Master The World, too.
He looked impressive on soft ground last time and with the distance also in his favour, there’s no reason the Irish-bred raider can’t run a big race here. A rail side draw should also help his cause.
The Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale is a difficult one to call.
There are chances right through the field, but it’s Midnight Tune who gets the nod from us. The seven-year-old toiled to a maiden Grade 2 success last time out against one of today’s fancies, If You Say Run.
The ground looks to be in his favour once again and with trainer Anthony Honeyball in excellent form since the turn of the year, Midnight Tune should be able to lead his competitors a merry dance at Newbury.
Aidan Coleman has ridden the selection to three wins in his last four outings and is booked to ride once more.
Oistrakh Le Noir is the form pick for the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at 2:40. He won well at Market Rasen last time out and will go off a fair mark for that success here.
His main challengers have all failed to impress in any great deal. And that should be enough for Ben Pauling’s charge to land the spoils on soft ground once again.
ITV Racing Tips:
1:50 Doncaster – Perfect Pasture
2:05 Newbury – Wotzizname
2:25 Doncaster – Original Choice
2:40 Newbury – Oistrakh Le Noir
3:00 Doncaster – Tabarrak
3:15 Newbury – If You Say Run
3:35 Doncaster – Ballard Down
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
