Updated 8.41, 9.14, 9.45 - all selections online

The flat is back (!) with two quality cards at Doncaster and Kempton in Britain on Saturday while in Ireland, leading 2000 Guineas hope Albert Einstein makes his belated return to the track at the Curragh.

While the 2026 turf season kicks off at Doncaster – live on Sky Sports Racing – we’ll head to Kempton and the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Rosebery Handicap (2.42) for the first bet of the day, MILITARY ACADEMY who with a 7lb claimer in Alexandra Egan has his top weight burden eased.

Egan showed herself to be a competent rider last year, riding nine winners from 54 rides (17%) for a level stakes profit of +1.93, maybe no surprise given she is a daughter of John Egan, sister of David Egan, niece of Richard Hughes and grand-daughter of Dessie Hughes – I hope I have all that right, but either way, she can ride and in Military Academy she throws her leg across an in-form horse.

The son of Fastnet Rock comes here on the back of a fine effort in the Group 3 Winter Derby, where he looked on good terms with himself, looking a potential winner up the Lingfield straight, only to be run out of it late on. That run is possibly worth upgrading given he was on the usually unfavoured far rail late on and got shuffled back before they turned in, but one could also argue he was flattered due to the tactical nature of the race, but I’m going to take a more positive view.

The fact the Handicapper raised him 4lb is far from ideal back in handicap company today, but that is offset by his young rider’s claim. Rated as high as 112 when previously trained by the Gosdens, today’s mark of 105 looks workable on previous form, especially with him essentially running off 98 once his jockey’s 7lb concession is thrown in.

The five-year-old has plenty solid form on the all-weather, including a Listed win here at Kempton earlier in his career so all looks set for a big run for new owner and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam. I just hope there was nothing sinister about him being slowly away last time out and he can make the life of his inexperienced rider as easy as possible. If in good order however, he has the class to go close in a race a few are making their season debuts. 

Up at Doncaster in the Listed William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Cammidge Trophy Stakes (1.50), MY MATE ALFIE is a fascinating stable switcher to the David O’Meara yard from Ger Lyons.

O’Meara has a rich history of doing well with horses from other yards and given he, My Mate Alfie, went winless in a disappointing 2025, a change of scenery might bring out the best in this son of Dark Angel, who has the form – on my numbers at least – to match anything in this field, but unlike Annaf, Art Power and Spycatcher doesn’t have a penalty to carry.

The selection’s new connections picked him up last October for 250,000 Guineas so he has likely been in the O’Meara system for quite some time and has hopefully had plenty time to settle into his new surroundings. The fact the five-year-old is capable of running well fresh with the O’Meara team among the winners also bodes well for his chance in what is a competitive renewal.

As a five-time winner which include successes in Listed (x2) and Group 3 company, along with a big Curragh sprint handicap win off a mark of 107, I have no doubt he is good enough to win if ready to rock and roll. The fact that his usual blinkers remain on is hopefully a sign of intent and given his new trainer, I don’t see why his best days can’t be still ahead of him.

His sectional data suggests he has the pace to comfortably lay up with the likes of Art Power and James’s Delight so I make him a solid each-way bet from a perfect draw in stall six given his consistent and straight-forward nature. With Danny Tudhope in Dubai, it’s a big ride for Mark Winn who can hopefully grab the opportunity with both hands. 

Later on the Doncaster card and in the day’s big race, LA BOTTE holds an obvious chance in the William Hill Lincoln (3.32), housing the near-on perfect profile for a race of this nature.

The incredibly well-bred son of Too Darn Hot looks the proverbial “Group horse in a handicap” and while it won’t be easy to win such a competitive contest off a mark of 104 carrying joint-top weight of 9st 12lb, this decade alone we have had winners of this race off marks of 104, 102, 100, 99, 100, 100 and 100.

Given how well his three-year-old form has worked out (especially his King Charles II effort at Newmarket) and this only being his sixth career start, I have no doubt he can win a race of this nature despite his lack of experience. It’s that fine balance of being experienced enough to handle a big field handicap but also being lightly-raced enough to not show the Handicapper your full hand, but given he went so close in last year’s 30-runner Brittania at Royal Ascot, there are no doubts on the former point, with the latter suggesting there is surely more to come.

That Royal Ascot effort has worked out nicely courtesy of the likes of Fearnot, Dividend at al and it came on proper summer fast-ground, but I think he’ll be even better on today’s softer surface given how he moves and how he is bred.

The four-year-old’s grand-dam is from a classy Juddmonte family and related to the likes of Kingman and Oasis Dream so on paper, there really is plenty to like. His draw in stall 13 looks perfect for a horse who will likely seek cover and is close enough to possible early pace-setters Urban Lion (2), Botanical (3), Alpha Crucis (4), Tarkhan (12).

In race that doesn’t have loads of pace given the big field, let’s hope Jamie Spencer doesn’t sit too far out of his ground on a horse who was a huge eyecatcher last time out.