Saturday's Horse Racing Tips: James Boyle's Best Bets at Doncaster

For today's horse racing tips, our analyst James Boyle looks at the flat racing at Doncaster, with two selections now online.

As always, you’ll find the most up-to-date odds at the best horse racing betting sites, but our tipster’s predictions are researched early in the day and those prices could soon change. Odds stated are correct at the time of publishing.

14:20 Doncaster – Toca Madera – 1pt @ 8/1

Toca Madera has all of the tools to land a big field handicap and the only real surprise with him is that he hasn’t managed to do it yet, although he was unlucky not to win the Stewards’ Cup.

The way he tanked through his next start at the Ebor festival was impressive and only a couple of strong finishers got by him after he went to the front much earlier than is ideal.

He was out again a few days later but had a poor draw and didn’t have the clearest shot at things either, then proved he was still in form at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago.

Soft ground, which was closer to heavy, wouldn’t have played to his strengths but he finished well for a clear second behind a rival who loves both the track and bad ground.

I’d imagine it’ll be easier to get him covered up in this race and the only time he came to Doncaster, he bolted up by over three-lengths without breaking a sweat.

Returning to this place should do no harm, being drawn in 11 looks fine, and if he can handle having yet another visit to the racecourse (his twelfth in four months), I fancy a big, big run.

16:15 Doncaster – Mezcala – 1.50pts @ 4/1

Mezcala is one of those extremely rare horses who don’t owe me money, that being thanks to his fast-finishing Royal Ascot success in the Buckingham Palace.

He did very well to get a run through, never mind win the race, and the fact that they didn’t even go that quick up front makes the performance all the more meritorious.

There was no chance of a repeat trick over the same C&D in an even more valuable handicap on his sole run since as the pace was really slack and he didn’t get properly covered up.

I wouldn’t judge him harshly on that and also reckon he’ll be happier at the mile again, returned to the scene of his easy win on seasonal return in March.

Ideally, he would have Tom Marquand on again and unfortunately he’s booked for Haggas, but at least George Bass knows him well and was on board for the win here.

How things will pan out from a cover and pace point of view this time is anyone’s guess, but it’s a big field and I’m certain he has more to come from a mark of 98. He must be a major player.