Top commentator Simon Holt previews the pick of Saturday's action with Andrea Atzeni expected to shine at Doncaster.
Recommended bets:
2pts win Yuften in 3.35 Doncaster at best morning price
2pts win Sacred Act in 2.25 Doncaster at best morning price
1pt each-way Noble Gift in 3.15 Kempton at best morning price
YUFTEN looks a worthy favourite in Saturday's Betway Lincoln Handicap, the first big race of the 2017 Flat season.
Formerly tried at Group One level as a three-year-old when he finished fifth to Kingman in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing second (subsequently demoted to fourth) behind the smart Charm Spirit in the Prix Jean Prat on soft ground at Chantilly, the now six-year-old bounced back to winning form last season at Dundalk and when taking the hugely valuable Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on British Champions Day (Third Time Lucky, now 1lb worse off) fifth, Highland Colori sixth, Donncha ninth, Zhui Feng 12th, Dream Walker 19th).
Clearly, this race has been Yuften's target ever since that Ascot win, and he shaped very encouragingly when third to Salateen, finishing like a train, in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton (7f) earlier in the month.
In another stride or two, Roger Charlton's charge, who will again be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, might have won that day and, as at Ascot, a strongly-run straight mile should bring out the best in him.
Being the Lincoln, there are plenty of alternatives but, while well beaten by the selection at Ascot, Zhui Feng could be set for a big run after finishing fourth in a finish of heads and necks behind Convey in the recent Winter Derby at Lingfield having shown his suitability for big-field handicaps when fifth in the Cambridgeshire last autumn.
Moreover, the four-year-old's trainer Amanda Perrett has her team in good form at present.
Earlier, Atzeni could also take the Betway Spring Mile Handicap (the Lincoln Consolation) aboard the fragile SACRED ACT who could well prove a class above his rivals.
John Gosden's very sparingly campaigned gelding has shown flashes of smart form in just five racecourse appearances, notably when finishing second to the subsequently high-class Lightning Spear at Lingfield in April 2015 before reappearing after a 17-month absence to land a handicap at Sandown last September.
A neck victory on the latter occasion doesn't really do Sacred Act justice as he had no run at all approaching the final furlong before quickening up impressively to pass several rivals.
It has to be significant that connections have persevered with him for so long, and their patience can be rewarded here.
At Kempton, the front-running NOBLE GIFT looks well worth a chance at decent odds in the Betfred 'Home of Goals Galore' Rosebery Handicap, a race which he won two years ago.
And, on this card last year when rated 4lb higher, he went under by just a head to Our Channel in the Listed Magnolia Stakes.
Noble Gift made two other appearances on his favourite course last season finishing third to Prince Of Arran over a mile and a half on his final start having been understandably outclassed behind Arab Spring in the Group Three September Stakes two starts earlier and, overall, his record at Kempton reads two wins and four placings from ten starts.
With only Sennockian Star as a possible rival for the early lead, regular partner Callum Shepherd may be able to dictate the pace to his liking.
Posted 1118 BST on 31/03/2017
