flat season starts today!

the Doncaster Lincoln handicap over a mile at 16.50 CET marks the traditional start of the flat season, although in these days of non-stop all-weather racing this does not actually apply. However today´s Card at Doncaster, the first meeting of 2014 on turf in the U.K., has a strong card with 18 runners in the Lincoln itself, including last year´s winner Levitate (John Quinn/ Joe Doyle) and 2011 winner Sweet Lightning (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope). The former is up in the weights and of this pair we certainly prefer Sweet Lightning, who is now lower than when he won this race, and also than when he won the Irish Lincolnshire last year. Lightly-raced Off Art (Tim Easterby/ David Allan) is an obvious danger, being lightly-raced and unbeaten last season; he has not run since June, but looks a certain improver. However the one we like best is Tullius (Andrew Balding/ Oisin Murphy), from a stable in top form and definitely the class act here. He had only a short 2013 season, but despite his high weight, looks very well handicapped on the form he showed in 2012.
Oisin Murphy is a huge talent and we also like his chances of landing the consolation race at 16.15 with Ed Vaughan´s Dance and Dance. This race however lookd really wide open, and otjhers to consider are CD specialist Brae Hill (Richard Fahey/ David Nolan) who won the Lincoln itself in 2012 and was also placed twice, and Stand My Ground (O´Meara/ Tudhope) who was out of form last season but is very well handicapped on his earlier French form.
The listed Cammidge Trophy over 6 furlongs at 15.40 is another race for CD specialists. Jack Dexter (Jim Goldie/ Graham Lee) won it last year and had some excellent form to his credit, but he has to give 5 lbs to Captain Ramius (Kevin Ryan/Phillip Makin) and only narrowly beat him at levels the last time they met. The lightly-weighted filly Maureen (Richard Hannon/ Kieren O´Neill) is another danger. The captain e.w. is the answer here.
There is also flat racing on the all-weather at Kempton. Balding can land another big handicap here with Absolutely So (David Probert) over 6 furlongs at 16.30, but top-weight Hoof It (Mick Easterby/ Freddie Tylicki) is a huge danger. 10yo Shavansky (Rod Millman/ Shelley Birkett) is our e.w. selection for the 11 furlongs handicap at 15.55; he is very consistent, goes really well at this track and has struck up a fine partnership woth this young lady jockey.
There is also N.H. racing, mainly at a low level, at Stratford and Uttoxeter. At the former track we shall give German-bred Seventh Sky (Charlie Mann/ Sam Twiston-Davies) another chance, despite repeated disappointments, at 16.40, while at Uttoxeter we hope to see Wily Fox (James Eustace/ Jack Quinlan) defy top weight at 16.55.
The best race at the Irish N.H.meeting at Navan is the Grade Two Webster Cup, a chase over 2 1/2 miles at 17.35. Baily Green (Mouse Morris/ Mark Enright) was still going well when he fell at Cheltenham and can defeat the two Gigginstown runners.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Flyball - Paddy Again - Magic Florence
2. Race: Fencing - Guest Of Honour - Graphic
3. Race: Tropics - Jack Dexter - Maureen
4. Race: Gworn - Brae Hill - Dance And Dance
5. Race: Gabrial`s Kaka - Tullius - Off Art
6. Race: Hymenaios - Romsdal - Cape Caster
7. Race: Cropley - Hector`s Chance - My Destination
8. Race: Zafranagar - Thecornishcowboy - Time Square