Doncaster, 14:25 - Back Carron @ 13/27.50
George Boughey's Carron was one of my ante-post selections earlier this week, and unlike my Lincoln bet who won't 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 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. Of course Hills had been struggling for winners over the past 12 months or so, so the new switch to trainer George Boughey is a positive and has already gained one in his short space of time with the new 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
Kempton, 14:42 - Back Marhaba Ghaiyyath @ 7/18.00
With six rated 100 or above for the famous old Rosebery Handicap those with established form are not getting any younger, but those looking to bridge the 100-mark need to improve.
Marhaba Ghaiyyath sits nicely somewhere in between as a four-year-old with surely more to come this year and a mark of 100 indicates a strong level of handicap form. Indeed his two runs at Newmarket to King's Charter and Goodwood to Best Secret led him to have a crack at a handicap on Ebor day at York and he didn't fare too badly in a race where it paid to be up with the pace and he wasn't able to get involved from rear.
He was gelded soon after and ran poorly in the Cambridgeshire, a big let down for his supporters that day but he can start afresh a new year and new season and looks well up to competing in the good 1m2f to 1m3f handicaps. The other positive is the fact he is 2-3 on the All-Weather and while this will be his first run at Kempton, his sire Ghaiyyath is 10% win and 32% placed from 50 runners on the surface.
Charlie Johnston should be pleased with the draw too in three and with the way he travelled at Goodwood last year off 95, he can win or certainly go close from his mark, and Timeform rating him 117 against the favourite Respond 116p.
Back Marhaba Ghayyaith in the 14:42 at Kempton
Back Alan's two tips in a double in one click here
Now read more tips and previews here
Recommended bets
Back Carron in the 14:25 at Doncaster on Saturday @ 13/27.50
Back Marhaba Ghaiyyath in the 14:42 at Kempton @ 7/18.00
Back Alan's two Saturday tips in a double in one click @ 59/160.00
MULTIPLES AND SINGLES (AT BSP) PROFIT AND LOSS (all to 0.50 stake)
2021 since multiples column started - present
Singles: +199.07
Multiples: +46.00
2026 P and L singles at BSP settled
Singles: -0.64
Multiples: +14.50
2025 P and L
Singles: +46.73
Multiples: +38.37