Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 22/1 Doncaster fancy

The Flat is well and truly back as Doncaster hosts their Lincoln Handicap meeting on Saturday with an excellent supporting card away from the main feature race of the day. Kempton also plays host to an exciting card including a Listed contest, some interesting handicaps and a couple of conditions races which could feature some starts of the future.

The main star on show this Saturday across Britain and Ireland could be Albert Einstein at The Curragh, however. The son of Wootton Bassett makes his long-awaited reappearance having been absent since impressing in a Group Three here last May.

Two from two so far, he's a short-priced favourite already for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and will further enhance his claims with a successful return to action in the Listed contest. He shaped as a brilliant prospect for Aidan O'Brien last term, despite being seen on a couple of times, and could emerge as the best from this potentially special Classic crop for Ballydoyle.

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Doncaster, 13:50 - Back Spycatcher @ 4/15.00

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.

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Doncaster, 14:25 - Back Perfect Part E/W @ 22/123.00

Despite being one of the outsiders of the field, four-year-old filly Perfect Part shouldn't be discounted in this mile handicap, capable of outrunning her odds on a going day. She hasn't won since providing a shock at a price of 125/1126.00 on debut at Beverley as a juvenile, but has been able to put in a number of promising efforts since, including when fourth to Spycatcher in a Listed contest at this meeting last year when sent off at odds of 50/151.00.

The daughter of Mehmas remains unexposed in handicap company and could be well treated from a rating of 87 considering the level of ability she has shown on occasion. 

Perfect Part was luckless in a competitive York handicap last May when rated 7lb higher, finishing fourth when unable to get a clear run until it was too late, outrunning her odds of 25/126.00 in the process. She was only beaten three-lengths in Listed company in her subsequent run, showing she can still pose a threat for the minor honours at least in black-type company.

It's too early to give up on Perfect Part, who has shown to possess ability. She has run well on her seasonal reappearance in both of her previous two campaigns, and could do so again to put in a competitive effort under Harry Russell for Brian Ellison.

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Kempton, 14:42 - Back Real Dream E/W @ 12/113.00

Likeable gelding Real Dream is no stranger to outrunning his odds and could do so again for Ian Williams in this 1m3f contest. He performed well in last year's renewal on yard debut when a creditable third to Teumessias Fox, sent off at odds of 33/134.00 on that occasion.

Since then, the son of Lope De Vega has been narrowly denied at Listed level, finished third in a competitive Newmarket handicap, and achieved an excellent fifth-placed finish to Ethical Diamond in the Ebor. When last seen, the seven-year-old put in an excellent performance to be narrowly denied at Group Two level in Riyadh, and, on the back of that effort, can make his presence felt returning to handicap company.

Despite dropping down in trip here, Real Dream has shown his capabilities over a shorter distance in the past and has enough speed to pose a threat in this contest. He has been able to compete against tough opponents, including when only four-and-a-half-lengths behind a future Breeders' Cup winner on the Knavesmire, and when narrowly beaten by a couple of 112-rated opponents in Sons And Lovers and Tabletalk in his latest run.

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Kempton, 15:13 - Back Glittering Surf @ 15/28.50

Four-year-old filly Glittering Surf was hugely impressive over course-and-distance on this card twelve months ago, beating Bermuda Longtail, who was subsequently narrowly denied at Listed level.

The Owen Burrows-trained contender was unable to build on two Kempton wins when upped into Listed company at York, and couldn't make an impression at Ascot when last seen either, but a return to this venue following a break could allow her to rediscover form.

The Oasis Dream filly has shown to possess plenty of ability and remains open to further improvement in only her fifth career start. She's unbeaten in two runs at this track and has gone well fresh previously, winning her on debut and following a 101-day break in the past.

She must overcome a 245-day absence but could be worth keeping onside under Callum Rodriguez, who has an all-time strike-rate of 41 percent for the yard, and may have improved plenty for a break, potentially able to improve plenty beyond her current rating of 92.

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Doncaster, 15:32 - Back Tribal Chief E/W @ 10/111.00

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.

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Doncaster, 15:32 - Back Galeron E/W @ 12/113.00

Galeron hasn't won since his juvenile campaign but has performed well in handicap company over the past year, including when third to Treble Tee over course-and-distance in September, and when narrowly denied by Desperate Dan here in October. He has run well in recent outings at the track and finished fifth in this race last year from a mark of 102 at odds of 33/134.00.

Now rated 95 with Jack Callan claiming 5lb in the saddle, the six-year-old makes appeal at the weights with course form in his favour. He has form figures of 4532 here, all in races which featured 14 runners or more, including last year's renewal of this race in a maximum field of 22 runners.

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Curragh, 16:15 - Back Shoot To Kill E/W @ 30/131.00

Likeable gelding Shoot To Kill has made only one previous appearance at the Curragh when fourth in a 15-runner field here in October, outrunning odds of 50/151.00 when behind winner Highbury See See. He put in an excellent effort on that occasion from a mark of 77, and could be capable of a similar performance from a 4lb lower rating.

The nine-year-old is now 7lb below his last winning handicap mark, having won a claimer since then, and has had a recent run at Dundalk which could set him up nicely for this assignment. He won on his return to the Turf last season for former trainer Stephen Thorne, and is on a workable enough mark from which he can be competitive and pose a threat for his current trainer Noel Kelly.

The experienced son of Dandy Man, who is bidding for a 13th career win in his 82nd appearance, makes each-way appeal and can fare better than in his latest run.

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Kempton, 17:03 - Back Brian E/W @ 25/126.00

Shaman gelding Brian impressed as a juvenile, shaping with great potential with a number of eyecatching efforts. He was only narrowly denied by subsequent Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke in a Chelmsford maiden, having been just beaten for third by Lady With The Lamp on debut at Windsor, and went on to place third to the brilliant Bedtime Story in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Brian hasn't quite shown the same level of form since his excellent debut campaign, in which he also landed a valuable pot on the July Course, and was narrowly denied at Group Three level over this course-and-distance, but has shown snippets of talent since. He finished a two-length fourth to Big Mojo in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot on his return to action last April, and placed second in a competitive Newbury handicap from his current mark of 95.

Considering some of the form he has shown in the past including at this venue, this could be the time for Brian to return to the force of old and prove he still retains plenty of ability. He is on a workable mark having been competitive from this rating in the past, has gone well fresh previously too, and could reward the faith at big odds for trainer Stan Moore.

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