Best bets at Doncaster and Kempton on Saturday for our columnist - including Ripp Orf in the feature Unibet Lincoln.
Recommended bets:
Godolphin's Auxerre has been a strong ante-post fancy for Saturday's Unibet Lincoln Handicap but could have plenty to prove on form and the extremely tough RIPP ORF is preferred at bigger odds.
David Elsworth's consistent gelding ran 16 times last season and improved fully 25lb in the ratings after a string of strong-finishing efforts including when taking two handicaps at Ascot and another at Newmarket (1m) as well as being placed in all but two starts.
RIPP ORF is well suited by this kind of straight course handicap and was reported by his rider Hayley Turner to be in very good form at home earlier this week. I think there could easily be further improvement to come from a horse with a tremendously willing attitude.
Auxerre won three of his four starts last season, winning a handicap at Kempton off 93 in October (now up 7lb).
However, none of his efforts have been seriously boosted and, while clearly a horse of potential from a top outfit, he looks plenty short enough in the betting now.
The price has also contracted regarding Irish raider Saltonstall who might prefer softer ground but should go well off just a 2lb higher mark than when winning at The Curragh last May while South Seas has his first run for bang-in-form trainer Phil Kirby.
Last season, I was in danger of following Kynren over a cliff in several big handicaps but, while running well, he tended to finish a bit tamely. Robert Winston's mount has loads of ability.
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Earlier, ARBALET could be interesting dropped back to six furlongs in the Listed Unibet Cammidge Trophy.
Hugo Palmer's son of Dark Angel showed some very useful form last season, finishing fifth to Expert Eye in the Jersey Stakes and third to the same horse (who went on to win the Breeders Cup Mile) on his final start at York.
In-between, Arbalet was in front two furlongs out in the hugely valuable International Handicap at Ascot on King George day but was worn down by Burnt Sugar in the closing stages. Given the pace he showed that day, a shorter distance could suit him well.
On ratings, Invincible Army is the one to beat and his nose second to Sands Of Mali in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock last May would probably be good enough.
However, he was slightly disappointing in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next time and, after a poor run at Newbury a month later, then went missing.
At Kempton, FABRICATE is fancied to follow-up last year's win in the Listed Matchbook Magnolia Stakes.
Michael Bell's seven-year-old, who races in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen, was a decisive winner from Autocratic that day before running the top class Crystal Ocean very close at Sandown.
Fabricate seems to go well when fresh these days as a later victory at Windsor came after a short break and he was not disgraced when third in the Group Two Prix Dollar on his final start of the campaign at Longchamp.
With the improving Mootasadir facing a stiff task under a 5lb penalty, the imposing Matterhorn looks the selection's most dangerous rival having completed a five-timer on all-weather tracks during the winter.
Mark Johnston's son of Raven's Pass improved again when slamming Executive Force (twice a winner since) by five lengths over this course and distance earlier in the month and now takes a step up in class.
Preview posted at 1100 GMT on 29/03/2019
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