Focus On The Flat: Smido's round-up ahead of the new season
Wed, 25 Mar 2026
Wed, 25 Mar 2026
With Cheltenham 2026 now long in the books, Flat racing rans are licking their lips ahead of the new season which is set to roar into action in the coming weeks.
Races Now's resident Flat expert Adam Smith is more excited than most and marks your card for the campaign ahead in his latest Focus On The Flat column here at Odds Now.
Lincoln Day is long circled in my calendar every year. Not as the best days racing of the year, but as the long awaited start to the British flat season. A day which means more to me than most racing fans, because I can count on one hand how many bets I placed in the jumps season of my own accord. Home By The Lee being one of the them, at least.
Week one of a seven month season isn’t the time to be smashing in, but a 22-runner handicap over Doncaster’s straight mile, really does warm the heart. Those of you that are regulars over on our YouTube channel will know I tipped Eternal Force at 9/1 a few weeks ago. Stating that he would be the William Haggas chosen one and half the price on the day. So far, so good.
It wouldn't be often the Queen Anne winner from the previous season makes their seasonal return in the Listed Doncaster Mile, but that is what we are set to get from Docklands. A 14/1 shock winner at Royal Ascot and form figures in Group One races thereafter in 2025 of 4,4,9 and 4. Not only do we have the Queen Anne winner as a possible runner, but 150/1 Sussex Stakes winner Qiarat could also start his season here. A race for final decs, at this stage.
The week directly after Cheltenham sees a Guineas market mover every year without fail. Unsurprisingly this early years gamble is Albert Einstein. I'll get it out there early - 7/2 for Albert Einstein to win the 2,000 Guineas is a ridiculous price.
He hasn't been seen in public since 25th May 2025 (342 days before the Guineas), might not stay the trip and is without doubt priced on hype rather than form in the book thus far. We've been here many times before with Aidan O'Brien and that year's chosen one. The Ballydoyle supremo finds fantastic ways every year of describing a horse as something out of the ordinary without actually saying the words "he's the best we've ever had." This year's soundbite from AOB is "I don't think we've ever had a horse as quick" and he's been cut from 10/1 to 4/1 as a result. Brilliant.
Apparently Ballydoyle thought they had a rubbish bunch of two year olds last year and Albert Einstein was just miles in front of an average bunch. As the year went on, it became clear his two year olds were in fact pretty good - winning eight of the thirteen juveniles in Europe in 2025, all whilst Albert Einstein was stood in his box injured.
O'Brien is on record saying "We’re not going to look” in regards to the stamina question. So trainer, owner, jockey and punters are going to find out on the day (May 2nd) if the favourite for the 2,000 Guineas stays a mile. His dam never raced beyond six furlongs and he's off a 342 day break. Hmm.
I've tipped Bow Echo at 12/1 on this column and I'm happy with that position, now 7/1. Enoch was the other I have tipped at a much bigger price, but I'm fully aware we'll need to see him in a trial beforehand. At least he's been left in the race to this point, so that's all we can ask for at this stage.
In other news, Kaplana appears to still be in training given she has an early entry in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 24th.
A two time winner of the Fillies And Mares Stakes at Ascot, Juddmonte appear to have changed their mind and bringing her back as a five-year-old. Good news indeed, as she was the horse that got closest to Calandagan on his run of European dominance last summer.
And finally, it's the Dubai World Cup meeting this Saturday. And with all what is going on in that part of the world, it would be remarkable if that meeting went ahead. Hopefully it passes without incident and we see some cracking racing which includes the Dubai Turf featuring Ombudsman and Calandagan in the Sheema Classic – both are odds on.
See you Thursday with plenty of selections on our YouTube Saturday preview show!
Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
Adam's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2026
THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES!
Aidan O'Brien on Albert Einstein 🗣️ "Of the Guineas horses, the number one horse at the moment is Albert. He's done very well physically. "Obviously, we won't know whether he's going to get the mile until we do it. Everyone says that he will get a mile, but he's a very quick
🗣️ "He's big, powerful and rapid" Aidan O'Brien has declared a twice-raced colt as his number one hope for the 2,000 Guineas, with the horse being backed into joint-favourite 👀
