What you need to know for the return of the turf at Doncaster this weekend

The return of Flat racing on the turf comes on Saturday with the Unibet Lincoln fixture at Doncaster. The two-day weekend meeting is headlined by the heritage handicap, which is one of four races from the track to be shown on ITV, whose coverage runs from 1.25-4pm, with every race televised on Sky Sports Racing. The most high-profile recent winner of the Lincoln is subsequent three-time top-level winner Addeybb, who bids for a repeat Ranvet Stakes success at Rosehill in Australia on Saturday.

Who is entered on the Lincoln card?

Lightly raced four-year-old Eastern World heads the Lincoln betting and has the benefit of race fitness having won at Meydan last month. Haqeeqy, a three-time winner from five starts, Brentford Hope and King Ottokar are other market principals for the big handicap.

Brando is the top-rated entry in the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes, while Bounce The Blues, Juan Elcano, Montatham and Space Traveller are among a classy potential field in the Listed Doncaster Mile.

Doncaster entries on Saturday

There are 18 entries in the Brocklesby – the first opportunity to see Britain's two-year-old crop of 2021 – with Richard Fahey, Mick Channon, Mark Johnston and Bill Turner among winning trainers to have an entry on Saturday.

Who has a good record at Doncaster?

Roger Varian boasts a 23 per cent strike-rate at Doncaster in the last five seasons and has landed three of the last four runnings of the Doncaster Mile with Belardo, Zabeel Prince and Sharja Bridge. He bids to continue that impressive record with the progressive Father Of Jazz, and stablemate Ascension is entered in the Spring Mile and Lincoln.

Frankie Dettori, David Egan and William Buick were among the top five jockeys at Doncaster last year but they are in action on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Saturday, while third-placed Tom Marquand continues his association with Addeybb in Australia. Ben Curtis, who was fourth in the track’s standings, will be in action though and is booked for several rides on both days.

Mr Lupton: course record-holder is entered at Doncaster on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images

Mr Lupton holds the course two-year-old record over 6½f and could contest the Cammidge Trophy at the age of eight, having finished second in the race in 2018.

Who arrives off the back of a good winter?

Adam Kirby has operated at a 22 per cent strike-rate on the all-weather since the turn of the year and is set to ride Tis Marvellous in the Cammidge Trophy Stakes and River Nymph in the Lincoln, while Hollie Doyle – second in the all-weather championship – is booked for rides at Doncaster on Sunday.

Kevin Philippart De Foy: could saddle his first runner on the turf at DoncasterCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Fahey and Johnston are the two Flat trainers in Britain to saddle 30-plus winners since the turn of the year and are well represented across the meeting. Kevin Philippart De Foy has made an excellent start to his training career, operating at a 28 per cent strike-rate since November, and could saddle his first runner on turf with Lady Ironside in the apprentice handicap on Saturday. She also has an all-weather entry at Kempton.

What are the Flat treats in April?

It's All-Weather Finals Day at Lingfield on Friday week and thereafter the attention steadily turns to the turf for Flat fans.

Newbury's Greenham card, featuring three Group 3s and the Spring Cup, takes place on April 17, and Leicester stages the Listed King Richard III Stakes on the same day as Sandown's jump racing finale the following Saturday.

If you want more on the return of the Flat . . .

First-season sires in Brocklesby and Ghaiyyath's brother among Doncaster entries

John and Thady Gosden to start new joint-licence era on Saturday

What's on this week: the Flat is back with the Lincoln at Doncaster plus $12m Dubai World Cup

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