Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Lattam could prove an inspired buy in the Lincoln

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over the best of Saturday’s action from Doncaster, Newbury and Bangor-on-Dee.

Doncaster, Saturday

ASTRAL BEAU can repeat last year’s success in the Doncaster Mile (1.20pm), which opens up the Flat Turf season on ITV4 this Saturday. Although she has a little to find with Charyn and Knight on the overall balance of their form, she is rather more straightforward than that pair, and can act really well on extreme ground. What is more, she held her form on slightly more conventional ground, particularly when shaping second best in the Falmouth. 7/2

DUKES OF HAATHER is my best guess in the Brocklesby (1.50pm) at 6/1. He has a slightly stouter pedigree than some of these, but that could well be in his favour on this sapping surface, and plenty of his relatives acted with cut. He comes from a very capable stable, and his purchase price would offer some encouragement as to his physical credentials.

ARTHUR’S REALM is the pick in the Spring Mile (2.25pm). He adds a touch of class to this race, having knocked heads with great credit against better rivals for most of last season. He barely ran a bad race, but his winless streak enables him to rock up here fully eight pounds lower than last year, and just a pound higher than when winning it really tidily in 2022. Rossa Ryan was aboard that day, and has ridden him only once besides, when running very well. 7/1. 

ORAZIO might be the answer to the Cammidge (3.00pm) at 3/1. He looked the real deal when scooting clear in a warm Ascot handicap on soft ground last spring, but didn’t really go on, despite starting favourite each time. He’s been gelded since and, if that plus the freshness angle combine to good effect, he could just be a cut above for a yard that tends to get out of the blocks quickly when the turf season begins.

LATTAM could prove an inspired buy in the Lincoln (3.35pm). He was purchased for just £50k from William Haggas’s yard, but new connections report there’s no catch, and he still looks quite well handicapped for a horse of his relative inexperience. Two things are certain: that he wants soft ground and that he runs his best races fresh. Add a change of surroundings and this might just be the time to catch last year’s winner of the Irish equivalent. 9/1.

Bangor-on-Dee, Saturday

WEST TO THE BRIDGE looks weighted to win again in the TV race at Bangor (1.30pm). He’s an old boy now, but he’s run with credit this season, ran his best races around this time last year under this rider, and won on his only previous visit to this track. At this trip – about right for him – he should be right on the pace, and will see it out well. 10/3.

Newbury, Saturday

KARTOON AND CO must surely be very dangerous in the handicap hurdle at Newbury (2.10pm). I like an in-form juvenile against elders in a handicap at this time of year, and the top two in the market will have to be every bit as good as they’re cracked up to be to concede this much weight. He really should have won a minute against fair rivals at Sandown, and is only three pounds higher. He has a big chance at a nice price of 4/1.

GUNSIGHT RIDGE gets a narrow vote in the Newbury chase (2.40pm) at 9/2. He’s a pretty honest and consistent horse and, although a lot of his form is at the minimum, he has some good efforts at this trip, notably his run behind L’Homme Presse a couple of years back. He ran into one at Sandown last time and can make a bold fist of it here for a stable very much among the winners.

ENDLESS SUPPLY can outrun her odds in the Mares’ Final (3.15pm). She probably could have beaten Alfie’s Princess twice in the autumn but for being too far out of her ground once and losing a shoe the other time. She reopposes on much better terms, yet is a bigger price at 16/1, and she just didn’t seem at the races at all her most recent start. She’s better than that, will be well suited by track and ground, and looks pretty unexposed.