Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, March 28th 2026

It's the last weekend of racing for March coming our way, and there is plenty to ponder. Doncaster hosts the Lincoln Handicap as the new British Flat season kicks off, while Kempton also offers some intriguing action.

Our expert team of racing tipsters– including the star of At The Races, SD – are here to give their thoughts on the racing coming our way, along with some thoughts on the latest current affairs impacting the sport of kings.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four experts answering our key questions this week:

SD - Races Now's tipster extraordinaire who has shot to prominence over the last year with his engaging content and stellar betting record.

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Harry Fowler - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.

Liam Hedgecock - North-east-based racing fan who has been working in the sport since 2021. Second-time Races Now contributor.

Zac Castledine - Previous Punters Panel contributor and huge horse racing lover, currently working within the industry.

The flat returns at Doncaster on Saturday! Who wins the Lincoln?

SD: I wouldn’t have La Botte as favourite. Eternal Force should be, and there ought to be more to come. Botanical is the other one with the Burke switch a good angle.

AS: I've tipped Eternal Force ante-post and think he is the one to beat. At much bigger prices, I'll be having a small go on Mirabeau each-way. Pretty consistent at a nice level at the back end of last season. No chance over too far and in too good a race on his last start of 2025. Better jockey on here. Whopping price.

HF: Tribal Chief is the one I landed on, a horse who has had a meteoric rise through the handicap, and I think there is more to come. Started last season bumping into a bullet point now rated 105 off 89, that was off 90, only 3lbs higher here. The ground being on the slower side is right up his street; he may need some luck in running with his style of running, but I’m convinced he’s better than 93.

LH: I am intrigued by the jockey booking of Toby Moore to ride Anno Domini for Charlie Appleby. The 4-year-old looked potentially above-average in winning his first two starts, but then went slightly off the boil before being gelded. That being said, it is hard to get away from Eternal Force, who is seeking a four-timer for last year’s winning jockey/trainer combo of Cieren Fallon and William Haggas. He doesn’t seem to have reached his ceiling yet and looks just the type his yard excels with.

ZC: No trainer has won the Lincoln more times than William Haggas, and I believe he can extend his number of wins to six with Eternal Force on Saturday. He passes the eye test, having won his last three, and ticks a lot of boxes, most significantly 20 of the last 22 winners carried 9-4 or below, of which he sneaks in carrying 9-4 on Saturday. Great chance.

Any other bets lined up for you at Doncaster?

SD: Yes. I thought James’s Delight was unlucky in the Cammidge last year, and he’s young enough to improve.

AS: I fancy Principality in the race for horses that didn't get in the Lincoln at 2:25. Like soft ground, had no chance of winning his last two starts in 2025 - bad draw at Goodwood, finished full of running and won the wrong side of the race by five lengths at Newmarket. Jockey in form, trainer in form. Good each way bet.

HF: Looking to the Cammidge Trophy at 1:50, the top two in the market are both now 8-year-olds. The one that takes my eye is My Mate Alfie, representing new connections who have had similar types of horses, such as Escobar. He was a consistent horse throughout last season without quite managing to get his head in front. I think he’s better with the ground not rattling, which he will get and hit the ground running for new connections.

LH: It is very competitive fare on Town Moor this weekend, but the one solid selection away from the Lincoln simply has to be Docklands, who drops in class against some lesser rivals here. Qirat has yet to recapture the form he showed when causing a major shock to win the Sussex Stakes last year. I am confident Docklands can take advantage of this drop in grade in a small field before being stepped back up to Group 1 company.

ZC: My Mate Alfie in the Cammidge (13:50). Withernsea Thoroughbreds have picked him up for 250,000gns over the Winter, which is a fair amount for a group of owners who have had great success doing so in the past. This lad beat Spycatcher, who he faces again, by 5.5 lengths three starts ago. That was off-level weights. On Saturday, he gets 5lbs from last year's winner. I’m sure he has his number, and if he does, he won’t be far away.

There's a supporting TV card from Kempton on the all-weather. Any fancies there?

SD: Survie looks too short in the 3.13pm, and Cathedral has better form in any case.

AS: I think Sweet Princess is really interesting in the 3:13. Just two novice runs to her name yet chucked in this decent-looking Listed race here. Reminds me a lot of Zeus Olympios for the same connections, who won at Haydock last September. She's a mile behind the top two on ratings, but we are compensated with a big price.

HF: Anniversary. I’m confident he will win the 2:08; he’s had two goes at this trip. One at the end of last season, where he stumbled out of the stalls and was then too keen trying to make up lost ground. Unlike most in this race he has run this season, and he was well supported that day, but just looked like he needed it, blinkers left off that have no returned. Jack Dace takes off a further five, and he is my bet of the weekend.

LH: El Burhan is a horse I have always liked, and he signed off his 3yo campaign positively with a comfortable win, stepping back up to 1m2f. This is his first start over 1m3f, so there is potential for him to improve, and he has gone well fresh in the past, so he will do for me in an open-looking contest.

ZC: I’m very sweet on Anniversary in the 2:08pm, but I am sure Harry has done the work for me there. He would be my NB of the whole weekend, with my NAP being Respond in the following race at 2:42pm. Sent off favourite for his last 5 runs, I’m sure this son of Ghaiyyath will again be fav on Saturday. He’ll bowl along from the front, and I think it’ll be a tough task for any to pass him today, particularly with match fitness on side.

Anything catching your eye elsewhere on Saturday?

SD: Tune in Saturday AM on Races Now X and Races Now YouTube and find out!

AS: I thought Excellent Believe was the best bet in the Doncaster Mile, which means I agree with SD, who has already tipped that on our ante-post show.

HF: Not in terms of a bet, but absolutely fascinated by this intended runner, Albert Einstein, in the 3:05 at the Curragh. It looked for all the world we wouldn’t see him till the Guineas, but Aidan appearing to have a brain wave, pulling the plug on Ryan Moore’s Dubai trip and into heavy ground over 7.

LH: I’m looking forward to watching Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic from a sporting point of view, as well as Albert Einstein at the Curragh with a view to the 2000 Guineas next month.

ZC: We’ll all be glued to the Curragh at 3:05pm, right? Let’s see if all the hype about Albert Einstein is real. The 2000 Guineas already looks to be a cracking renewal, and if he wins easy here, it would make for an even tastier picture.

Which horse are you most looking forward to seeing this flat season? And have you had any ante-post bets?

SD: I don’t follow horses per se, but have backed Abashiri for the Oaks.

AS: We might get to see the hype horse of 2026 this weekend as Albert Einstein is entered at the Curragh. A few days ago, we thought he was going straight to the Guineas; that appears to have changed now, and that's 100% the right thing to do for a horse that hasn't been since May last year. I really like Precise and think she will win the 1000 Guineas.

HF: Precise is the horse I am most excited about, she looked a real talent at Newmarket for the Fillies Mile, where I was breath taken by just how easily she did it. In terms of ante-post bets, Publish is my bet for the 2000 Guineas at 16/1, but he’s been smashed of late. At current ante-post markets, I like Benvenuto Cellini in the Derby at 10/1.

LH: I am sitting on a nice double-figure price for Bow Echo in the 2000 Guineas, which I have held since last September, and can’t wait to see him as a 3yo. Away from him, I am most looking forward to seeing Diamond Necklace in her 3yo campaign. I was so impressed with her when she won the Prix Marcel Boussac, and she is my idea of the Oaks winner at this stage.

ZC: Amiloc is one that I am really looking forward to this season. He seems destined to run in Britain’s first-ever £2 million race at Ascot in July. In terms of ante-post bets, I am on Gewan for the 2000 Guineas and have got one in the Commonwealth for Royal Ascot. Charles Darwin at 7s still looks a serious price. This full brother to Blackbeard (who I fancy to be champion first season sire at 6/4) was mightily impressive in the Norfolk last season, considering he went off 8/13 for that. What price will he be on the day if he makes it?!

Who do you like for the Grand National at this stage?

SD: A few of them, but it depends on conditions. I have not had any further bets since the last update, but Gorgeous Tom remains on my radar.

AS: Absolutely no idea. The race has been ruined. It's harder to win the Midlands National.

HF: I have two on my current list, Monty Star is the one towards the top of the market. He has run brilliant races in the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase, both times making sure not to be too close for his mark. The other is High Class Hero, ran a good third when favourite at Sandown in their 3 mile 4 1/2 furlong handicap. The better ground, I think, is the key to him. 2 not great runs this season, both on soft ground. I think we will see more of what we saw at Sandown, and he looks a player at a big price.

LH: Lecky Watson is a horse I have always thought would love the demands of the Grand National, and while he has been out of form since falling at the Punchestown Festival, his current price of 50/1 is far too good to ignore. He is still only an 8-year-old, and we know he has the class to win this race, having landed the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

ZC: This time of year as a racing fan is so much fun. This column is no different. You spend a couple of hours going through the cards at Donny and Kempton and then get asked who you fancy for the Grand National, oh yeah, forgot that’s only two weeks away! At the moment, I have no real fancy. I usually play this race with the multiple places that the bookies offer, so I wait for the day to make my picks.