Meg Nicholls Racing Preview: Doncaster and Kempton Tips
SATURDAY RACING TIPS
Doncaster 2.25 – Cammidge Trophy
I’m going to go with Marshman (10/3) here.
He’s been running very well on the all-weather and was only just touched off in this contest 12 months ago.
The ground will be a bit quicker this time round – which should suit – and I like race-fit horses at this time of year.
They’ve also left the tongue-tie off, which is a plus, too and I’m hopeful he can go one better than last year.
Megan’s Tip: Marshman WIN
Kempton 2.40 – Rosebery Handicap
Over at Kempton, I’ll be backing Mount Atlas (9/2 co-fav) in the Rosebery Handicap.
He’s got the plum draw in stall one, and Haley Turner has a good record on him having been successful at Ascot last season.
He ran a cracker in the Old Rowley Cup at the back end of 2024 when last seen and that’s very solid form in the context of this race. Andrew Balding’s horses have started 2025 well too.
Mount Atlas has form at Kempton on the all-weather and he looks to have strong claims of notching up another win.
Megan’s Tip: Mount Atlas WIN
Doncaster 3.00 – Doncaster Mile
I like Botanical (7/2) in the Doncaster Mile.
Since we last saw him, he’s had a wind operation, and looking back through his form, he has the ability to win this if that has worked.
There should be plenty of pace here which should suit him and the mile at Doncaster takes some getting, so it’s no bad thing he has form over a bit further.
This is a pretty talented horse and I just prefer him to another Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owner runner in Liberty Lane (9/4 fav), who tends to improve for his first run of the season.
Megan’s Tip: Botanical WIN
Kempton 3.15 – Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes
This looks like a nice opportunity for Soprano (8/11 fav) to get her new campaign off to a winning start.
She was much improved last year and had her day in the sun when winning at Royal Ascot. She also ran some crackers in Group company and those bits of form are by far the best on offer here.
She was beaten on her return last season at Chelmsford where she was a bit keen, but that was over six furlongs. George Boughey will be well aware of that and the fact that this race is over a much longer trip should help her settle better.
The interesting one against here is Shuwari (7/2), who was a very talented two-year-old. We haven’t seen her in a long time, so it’s a big ask on her return to beat Soprano.
You’d imagine she’ll improve plenty for that run and she could be a filly to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Megan’s Tip: Soprano WIN
Doncaster 3.35 – Lincoln Handicap
A very open Lincoln as this race tends to be, but the one I’ve come down on is Midnight Gun (6/1) for James Doyle and Hamad Al Jehani.
He looks the pick of the Wathan Racing runners, and he’s been gelded since his last run. He’s only a four-year-old and I’m pretty sure there is a lot more improvement to come from the son of Kingman.
He was beaten narrowly over course and distance on his final start of last year, and he’s a horse who I feel has unfinished business in this sort of contest. The team know him better now and I like him a lot in this.
At an each-way price, I’ll throw in Fantastic Fox (22/1).
He’s been running well on the all-weather and a straight mile seems to suit him well. This sort of good-to-soft ground is perfect for him and a mark of 96 is still fair.
If you go back to his run in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot – a race not too dissimilar to this one – where he was only beaten five lengths, he’d have a chance of hitting the places.
Megan’s Tips: Midnight Gun WIN; Fantastic Fox EW
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation