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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.

Of his rivals, a soundish surface should suit the Golden Mile winner Toimy Son for whom the booking of promising teenage claimer Warren Fentiman is a big positive. The likes of last year’s second Lattam (probably wants more give in the ground) and Whip Cracker, unlucky in running in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton, should also go well. The form of that latter race has since been cemented.

I am also a big fan of IBERIAN (2.25) and following a wind operation I think that the Charlie Hills-trained runner will make great strides forward this season after they tried to stretch him out to a mile in last year’s 2,000 Guineas. Still highly regarded by Hungerford handler, this son of Lope De Vega had a lovely warm up race for this following that corrective surgery when getting up close home to win a class two conditions race at Southwell, even though he could have done with more pace in the race. The opening shows of around 7/1 are way too big about this bay colt and he gets a solid vote ahead of the likes of Marshman and the frustrating Spycatcher.

The Lincoln overspill consolation race, the Spring Mile Handicap at 1.50, looks equally as competitive as the main race and I have a sneaking feeling that RHYTHM MASTER could outrun his current double figure odds. Rated as high as 100 this time last year, the seven-year-old has now fallen to a mark of just 87 and drawn right on the far side of the track he seemingly has plenty of pace near to him to tow him into the race in the final half a mile.

I make the likes of the race fit Pearl Eye and top weight Thunder Roar his biggest dangers. For both the Lincoln and this race always look out for the best place offers from bookmakers on the day.

The opening Brocklesby Stakes (1.15) the first two-year-old turf race of the season, may well go the way of the ante-post favourite NORMAN’S CAY who has reportedly been impressing Richard Hannon at home and is bred for the job. I do have to tell you though that the 2024 winning trainer, Dylan Cunha, strongly fancies his newcomer Kamakameleon who has also been showing up very well on the home gallops at Newmarket.

At the back end of the card, WHATACRACKER (4.45) could go very well at a nice price in the mile and a quarter apprentice handicap even though a jockey has yet to be booked up. If he is declared a non-runner here then Kalikapour could go well under the promising Gianluca Sanna. The young jockey looks a promising rider and I think you will be hearing an awful lot more about him as we venture through 2025.

Over at Kempton Park, YOUTHFUL KING (2.05) is a left of field selection for the two-mile Queen’s Prize Handicap after running well here last year over a mile and a half. I know that connections have always thought that he would stay an awful lot further and with Sir Percy on the dam’s side of the breeding he could run a huge race if Jack Dace takes him out of the firing line early and saves him for a late plunge. The very lightly raced Who’s Glen should also run very well on his very first start over the distance.

Later on, I have a strong fancy in the form of AMBIENTE AMIGO in the Roseberry Handicap at 2.40. The James Owen-trained charge didn’t really make her mark as connections thought over hurdles and I think that a drop back to a well run mile and a quarter will possibly suit her.

SOPRANO (3.15) should prove very hard to beat in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes, while ARQOOB (5.35) could go a long way to defying top weight in the mile-and-a-half handicap due off at 5.35. He looked unlucky not to get back up in the closing stages over the course and distance last time out and can make amends here.

Finally, have a second look at STAG NIGHT (Curragh, 2.15) in a big field five furlong handicap. Six furlongs was too far for him last time out behind the veteran Laugh A Minute, but this is much more his cup of tea back in distance and on testing ground.