THE Flat is officially back and Templegate is confident he can smash the Doncaster bookies in style with a load of winners.
The first big race of the season, the Lincoln Handicap, is off at 3.35pm live on ITV4.
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With 22 runners going to post and thundering down the track in search of the £77,000 first-place prize, it’s not to be missed.
You’ll find all his Saturday selections below – and you can back a horse simply by clicking their odds.
WHIP CRACKER (3.35 Doncaster, nap)
He did well for trainer Richard Hughes last season and went close in a couple of Listed contests early on before finishing with a close-up fourth at Goodwood in October. He always looked the type to make a better four-year-old and was just a length off the pace when fourth in the Wolverhampton trial for this race earlier this month. He didn’t get the best of runs there and Doncaster’s straight should give him more chance to hit top speed. He looks on a fair mark and can go close.
MARSHMAN (2.25 Doncaster, nb)
He can go one better than his second in this race 12 months ago. He was coming back from a year off then but this time he’s had three runs with a Listed win at Lingfield before a good second at Southwell. He likes this trip and a little bit of juice in the ground is fine.
MOUNT ATLAS (2.40 Kempton, treble)
He was a big improver through last season and went through the novice ranks before landing an Ascot handicap on debut in that grade. He took another step forward when finishing the season with a good second in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket and a 4lb rise looks fair. He’s likely to improve plenty again this year.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
DONCASTER
1.15
SUCKING DIESEL is related to plenty of juvenile sprint winners so should have enough pace to figure in the first race of the Flat season.
Kamakameleon comes from the same jockey and trainer as last year’s winner so is respected.
Norman’s Cay should be much the best of these in time but he’s from a middle-distance family.
Saying that, his relative class may be enough to get his head in front.
Dorset trainer Bill Turner has an amazing record in this race with almost half of his runners making the frame.
That makes The Boreham Bullet an each-way prospect under Billy Loughnane.
1.50
PRESSURE’S ON warmed up for this nicely with a close second at Wolverhampton last time.
He finished strongly there to suggest moving up to this mile won’t be an issue and the handicapper has left his mark alone.
Naepoint did well last season, scoring here and finishing with back-to-back wins at Redcar.
He’s crept up the weights but could easily improve in this four-year-old season.
Look Back Smiling won this 12 months ago and is back from 1lb lower this time.
He seems best at this time of year and can figure again.
Ocean Of Dreams is interesting on just his third run and his first for Archie Watson after leaving Aidan O’Brien.
This trip should suit and a market move would be a good pointer to fitness.
2.25
MARSHMAN can go one better than his second in this race 12 months ago.
He was coming back from a year off then but this time he’s had three runs with a Listed win at Lingfield before a good second at Southwell.
He likes this trip and a little bit of juice in the ground is fine.
Spycatcher was last seen performing with credit in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot in October.
He likes it soft and has won after a break before which makes him a danger.
Witness Stand ended up out wide in a Saudi Group 2 last time but is proven at this level and can’t be ruled out although a slightly longer trip would be ideal.
James’s Delight is another who has scored after a break and he had no luck when beaten four lengths in the Champions Sprint.
This is his favourite trip and more rain would be fine as he likes it properly soft.
3.00
DANCING GEMINI is still best known for his sixth in the Derby when he travelled well before running out of petrol.
This is the lowliest race he’s run in since then after finishing fourth in the Group 1 QEII Stakes at Ascot on his latest run.
He doesn’t mind some cut in the ground and he may even find improvement as a four-year-old.
Liberty Lane won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September and was a good second in a Group 3 there to end last season.
He’s well up to this level and has scored over trip and track before.
Ownermate Botanical has had a wind op ahead of this comeback.
He was last seen going close in a Goodwood Listed contest and is capable of winning at this level.
Point Lynas was a good second in Doha latest and is proven in this grade over a mile.
He is another live contender in a good contest for the grade.
3.35
WHIP CRACKER can make a noise in the Lincoln.
He did well for trainer Richard Hughes last season and went close in a couple of Listed contests early on before finishing with a close-up fourth at Goodwood in October.
He always looked the type to make a better four-year-old and was just a length off the pace when fourth in the Wolverhampton trial for this race earlier this month.
He didn’t get the best of runs there and Doncaster’s straight should give him more chance to hit top speed.
He looks on a fair mark and can go close.
Midnight Gun has the poor record of Lincoln favourites to overcome but he was a good second here last time out in October and likes some cut in the ground.
He’s the choice of James Doyle and has every chance.
The Doyler could have ridden the other Wathnan Racing hope Native Warrior who is no forlorn hope.
He has few miles on the clock and was third in the Britannia at Royal Ascot last season.
His worst effort of the season came here in September but it’s likely that was just a blip.
Thunder Run took a big-field handicap at York in August before a decent fourth in the Balmoral at Ascot where he may not have been on the right part of the track.
He has a huge chance although quicker ground would probably be ideal.
Orandi weaved his way through the field to win the Irish version of this race at The Curragh two weekends ago.
A 5lb penalty gives him a chance and he could easily hit the frame if things go his way again.
Toimy Son loves a big field as he showed when winning the Golden Mile at Goodwood before a cracking third in the Cambridgeshire.
His sixth in the Balmoral was decent enough too and his rider’s claim brings his mark nicely down. He’s got an each-way shout.
Lattam finished second in this 12 months ago and finished the season with an unlucky second in that Balmoral at Ascot.
He best when fresh and is a contender again from just 2lb higher.
Godwinson could be the dark horse of the race coming from the shrewd Willie Haggas yard.
KEMPTON
2.05
COOL PARTY saves his best for this course and distance and has had a nice little nudge down the weights.
He was a good third at Kempton latest and Silvestre De Sousa can get a tune out of him.
Kamboo won the last time he ran on the all-weather.
He’s only 4lb higher than that Newcastle success and the booking of William Buick catches the eye.
Who’s Glen looks ready for two miles and scored over a testing trip at Chester two starts ago in September.
He’s high enough in the weights but could be open to improvement under Oisin Murphy.
Golden Rules is worth a market check on this comeback from almost two years off.
His last run saw him finish second in the Northumberland Plate so he’s no mug.
Alrazeen is a regular winner over this trip on the sand and has had a little break since a blip at Southwell last time out.
That could see him get back on track.
2.40
MOUNT ATLAS was a big improver through last season and went through the novice ranks before landing an Ascot handicap on debut in that grade.
He took another step forward when finishing the season with a good second in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket and a 4lb rise looks fair.
He’s likely to improve plenty again this year.
Max Mayhem is fresh from a game handicap win in Dubai and won this race two seasons ago.
His mark is just 3lb higher today so there’s every chance he’ll be in the mix.
Calumet showed some promise on handicap debut at Yarmouth in August.
Trainer Marco Botti is in decent form and any market support would be a good pointer.
Grey Cuban drops back to his best trip for this comeback.
He scored at Doncaster two starts ago and the handicapper hasn’t clobbered him.
Forceful Speed has been off for nine months but has some useful all-weather form and could make the frame.
3.15
SOPRANO should have too much quality dropped back to Listed level.
She was third in a Leopardstown Grade 1 last season and finished up beaten a fair five lengths at the Breeders’ Cup over too testing a trip.
Dropping back to her favoured mile under William Buick can see her kick off the season with a win.
Crimson Advocate is another with a good Breeders’ Cup run on her CV from 2023 but we saw her just once in the UK last season when she was held in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot.
The Gosdens should have her ready to run a nice race.
Shuwari is coming back from an even longer break of 533 days.
She was second in the 2023 Fillies’ Mile which is red-hot form.
We haven’t seen her since then and she’s entitled to need this.
The others have a gap to bridge with Rubies From Burma interesting from jumps handler Henry De Bromhead.
Templegate’s tips
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