ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets As The Flat Season Gets Underway

Saturday sees the start of the 2026 Flat Season in the UK, with all eyes focused on the action at Doncaster.

William Hill are sponsoring the entire card, with the added bonus of the ITV Racing cameras showing four live races from Town Moor.

The ITV crew will also be covering several races from the all-weather flat action at Kempton during their afternoon broadcast.

1.20 Doncaster – 5f Brocklesby Stakes

The Brocklesby Stakes is undoubtably one of the biggest leaps of faith races you could ever wish to bet on.

This year 15 unknown two-year-olds go to post and I am going to take a chance on STEP TO GLORY, who was hand-selected by Dylan Cunha’s expert team to set the track alight this season.

His breeding suggests that he’s a speed ball, so he’ll be an each-way play in the horse racing betting for me.

1.50 Doncaster – 6f Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed Race)

Course and distance scorer SPYCATCHER (NAP) landed this race last season, then went on to have an excellent season on both sides of the English Channel.

Karl Burke’s eight-year-old looks sure to have another great campaign, and can kick it all off with another victory here.

2.08 Kempton – 2m Queen’s Prize Handicap

SPIRIT MIXER won the Northumberland Plate last June, so certainly knows how to plot his way around two miles on an all-weather surface.

I cannot see the eight-year-old finishing out of the frame.

2.25 Doncaster – 1m Spring Mile Handicap

If Doncaster sees significant showers in the next few days, I really have to give an each-way shout to 84-rated EMPIRESTATEOFMIND.

An eight-time career winner, most of those victories have come on ground ranging from soft to heavy. This has to bring him right into the equation.

2.42 Kempton – 1m3f Rosebery Handicap

EL BURHAN runs on the polytrack for the first time at the weekend and the Shadwell-gelding can show his class in this handicap.

George Boughey’s four-year-old could well be a handicapper to watch this season.

2.57 Doncaster – 1m Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed Race)

DOCKLANDS who won the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, had originally been pencilled in to race in Dubai but with things the way they are in the region, the six-year-old – who is supposedly in good form, has been rerouted to South Yorkshire.

I’ll take Harry Eustace’s word as gospel and select him here instead.

3.13 Kempton – 1m Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race)

The mare SURVIE, a previous Arc competitor, is hitting all the right notes at her new yard and can land this Listed affair in front of the ITV racing cameras.

To be honest, she’s head and shoulders above these on the official ratings and can oblige as a favourite should in the sports betting markets.

3.32 Doncaster – 1m Lincoln Handicap

David O’Meara’s BOPEDRO may well be the veteran of the party in this famous seasonal opener, but he’s solid and reliable, thus making him a value each-way contender.

The ten-year-old ran well in the 2023 renewal of this race, and put up a decent show at Doncaster last September. He clearly loves the venue and off just 8st 13lbs, cannot be overlooked.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*