Tips Summary
Please Note: Prices quoted in table below were correct at time of each writer/tipster's column being published on Betting.Betfair.
Saturday horse racing tips and insight
13:50 Doncaster - Katie Midwinter: Back Spycatcher to defend his crown
Reigning champion Spycatcher will attempt to defend his title in this 6f Listed contest and make it a third consecutive win at Doncaster having also landed the Wentworth Stakes at the track in November. He was in great form at the end of last season, recording a Group Three success as well, and will attempt to resume that great run of form on the back of a break.
Making his reappearance following a 140-day absence, the experienced eight-year-old holds solid claims with proven form in the race. He usually goes well when fresh, having won on seasonal return on multiple occasions, and has enough in his favour to suggest he can put in another bold bid in familiar surroundings.
Back Spycatcher in 13:50 Doncaster
14:08 Kempton - Timeform Verdict: Belgravian still has more to offer
Competitive stuff with the vote going to Belgravian, who went from strength to strength over staying trips last season and may still have more to offer as a 4-y-o.
Lightly-raced 6-y-o Blindedbythelights was beaten only by an improving 3-y-o at Ascot when last seen in July and is another to consider along with the thriving Brasil Power.
14:25 Doncaster - Alan Dudman: Rely on Carron to have the final say
George Boughey's Carron was one of my ante-post selections earlier this week, and unlike my Lincoln bet who wont be showing up, Carron has made it and the price still holds up well enough for the first leg of Saturday's double at 13/27.50.
Firstly he is fit from a win at Newcastle three weeks ago - and is worth a few more pounds for that as he was in a position furthest away from the stands in the group, and I never like horses on the outside at the track. But he travelled well and sat handy and off a finishing speed of 105%, stayed well.
I can see the long Doncaster plains down suiting him and while he can boast a 3-4 record on the All-Weather, he needs to improve his turf efforts with just 1-8, although the bulk of those runs were with Charlie Hills, who has been struggling for winners over the past 12 months or so, and rookie and progressive trainer George Boughey has already gained one win out of him in his short space of time with the Boughey team.
He isn't short of pace and drying ground potentially will suit best as he was rapid inside the first three of four furlongs on quick ground at Leicester last year where he ran 10.37, 10.56 and 10.97 seconds furlongs in the early part of the race. Jack Callan's claim will be a massive help and he still looks a potential improver.
Back Carron in the 14:25 at Doncaster
14:42 Kempton - Mark Milligan: Back El Burhan to blossom in the Roseberry
George Boughey's El Burhan looks the one to be on in the Rosebery Handicap.
Progressive as a juvenile, he built on that with a reappearance win at Chester last season, while his Royal Ascot run is best ignored after a slow start, and he again met trouble in a tactical race next time.
Everything fell into place at Ayr when last seen, where he travelled strongly before quickening clear, a performance that suggests he's still very much on the up. A 6lb rise looks lenient for that performance and, with further improvement likely at this trip, he rates a strong contender on his all-weather debut.
Back El Burhan in 14:42 Kempton
14:57 Doncaster - Timeform Verdict: Docklands has lots in his favour
Though typically accustomed to bigger-field scenarios, Docklands should get a strong pace to aim at here with both Qirat and Volterra likely to go forward. The 6-y-o has a class edge on these, goes well fresh and is versatile ground-wise, so he has much in his favour.
Qirat shades preference ahead of Volterra for forecast purposes but Excellent Believe and Treble Tee do not look out of place either.
15:32 Doncaster - Katie Midwinter: Chief fancied to boss Lincoln rivals
Five-year-old gelding Tribal Chief is on a workable mark of 93 on his reappearance, only 3lb higher than his last win when beating now 105-rated Treble Tee at Goodwood last summer. He hasn't been able to make a significant impression for the major honours in two runs since, but has had excuses and could be worth keeping the faith in.
Trained by David Menuisier, the son of Sioux Nation is a five-time winner having risen from an opening mark of 61 when making a successful handicap debut at Nottingham a couple of seasons ago, to being rated as high as 94. He remains capable of showing further improvement and has already held his own in tough, competitive handicaps against talented opposition.
A horse to keep onside this term, Tribal Chief has the credentials required to pick up a big pot for his connections, possessing a huge amount of ability on his day, and holds each-way claims at double-figure odds in this exciting contest.
Back Tribal Chief E/W in 15:32 Doncaster
16:45 Meydan - Mark Milligan: Back Magnitude for World Cup success
In the Dubai World Cup itself, it's very hard to look past the odds-on favourite Forever Young, who is one of the very best dirt horses in the world.
However, he underperformed in this last year on the back of a Saudi Cup win and he takes the same route once more in a bid to claim this race for the first time.
Now, he did have a hard race in last year's Saudi Cup and that may well have taken its toll, and it's worth noting he didn't have to dig as deep in this year's renewal.
Still, I think there's some mileage in trying to get him beat with Magnitude, and trainer Steve Asmussen knows what it takes to win this race..
Magnitude was progressive last season, rounding off his year with a Grade 2 win at Churchill Downs and he looked as good as ever when taking a Grade 3 on his comeback at Oaklawn last month.
Forever Young will be a tough nut to crack but it's hard to see Magnitude finishing out of the frame and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at 7/18.00.
Back Magnitude E/W in 16:45 Meydan