David Ord provides a guide to the horses still in contention for Saturday's Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.
MIGRATION
Won the race last season in similar ground to that he’ll encounter on Saturday and only four pounds higher. He’s eight now mind, has a big weight and beat a combined total of three horses in his three subsequent starts in 2023.
JOHAN
Lincoln winner of 2022 and added the Golden Mile to his haul last term. Up three pounds from Goodwood and probably in the grip of the handicapper now but does know how to get the job done in races like these.
AWAAL
Ante-post favourite and you can see why as he returns to the race on the same mark as when second to Migration last year and that’s despite hitting the frame in both the Royal Hunt Cup and Bunbury Cup afterwards. Only thing not to like is the price.
LIBERTY LANE
Another big player. He was progressive throughout his three-year-old campaign before blowing out on his final start in the Cambridgeshire. He’d previously edged out Sonny Liston over course-and-distance, handles whatever the ground throws at him and could easily return as an improved model at four having being gelded over the winter.
THUNDER BALL
Ran well when seventh in the Cambridgeshire and signed off last season with a career-best to win at Goodwood. Not one to take lightly.
THE GATEKEEPER
It looked as though the handicapper might have him until he popped to win the Balmoral at Ascot. He might well have now mind having thrown another four pounds his way.
VETIVER
Picked up Black Type last season before contesting her second handicap on her final start when fifth behind The Gatekeeper at Ascot. She was well positioned through the race that day, but it was still a solid run and she’s unexposed in this sphere.
REVICH
Has contested the last three Lincolns and not been right at the top of his game in any of them. Tends to need a run or two to reach concert pitch.
BLUES EMPEROR
Interesting Irish raider who held his form well last season, winning at Naas and the Curragh and finishing second in the Irish Cambridgeshire. Only a pound higher on Saturday.
CHAZZESMEE
Eight pounds better off a length beating from Blues Emperor on his last start at the Curragh in July and was progressing at a rate of knots at the time. Hadn't been seen since but won the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh on Monday to potentially tee up the double bid.
NAVAGIO
New recruit for James Horton from Ireland where he won at Limerick and Gowran last season but wasn’t seen after July. It would be a tremendous training performance to have him ready to win the Lincoln on his first start since – and first for a new yard.
LATTAM
50,000 guineas recruit from the William Haggas team for whom he showed a good level of form in competitive handicaps last season. Might need a little help from the handicapper to win one.
DUTCH DECOY
Remarkable servant to connections who thrives on racing and is a model of consistency. Will run his race but didn’t fire in this contest last year and it’s not as if he has any secrets from the handicapper either.
FARHH TO SHY
Dual winner last season and a strong-travelling sort who handles cut in the ground, but she looks about where the assessor would want her.
MR PROFESSOR
Ended last season in good form and was a taking winner at Goodwood in September. Seemed well served by the strong pace there and while he’ll get that on Saturday too, the worry is the trip as his best form to date is over further.
CHUZZLEWIT
Highly regarded as a two-year-old but failed to progress in the anticipated manner. Back on track in headgear on the all-weather the last twice including when beating Greatgadian by half-a-length in first-time blinkers at Newcastle last time. This is an altogether different kettle of fish under a five-pound penalty.
PARLANDO
He won in Sakhir over the winter and is relatively unexposed for the Ian Williams team having been bought out of the Godolphin camp for a six figure sum. Needs a career best to win this but will be interesting to see how he goes.
HIERYONYMUS
Enjoyed a good time of it at Kempton since the turn of the year, winning twice, but up in the ratings as a result and might be better on an artificial surface.
ONE NIGHT THUNDER
Had two starts for Gemma Tutty after leaving Richard Hannon last term, running well at Newmarket in November before potentially finding the racing coming too soon at Newcastle next time. Has a few questions to answer but is low mileage.
SPIRIT GENIE
Won a seller in deep ground at Leicester in October. Had only four runs for Jennie Candlish after joining from Jessica Harrington but looks to have a bit to find.
BASS PLAYER
Running from 2lb out of the handicap proper and likely to be available at huge odds having failed to beat a rival home in a Wolverhampton Class 4 when last seen in January.
ALPHA CRUCIS
Another one who is a couple of pounds 'wrong' at the weights and although he has winning form on soft ground, he's taking a major step up in class and would have to have improved bundles over the winter if he's to make an impact at this sort of level.
Conclusion
The case for Awaal is rock-solid but he found one too good last year and LIBERTY LANE might be the one this year. He’s very much the type to make a better four-year-old following a gelding operation and is proven over this course-and-distance in testing ground.
It’s hard to see many others who are open to significant improvement in this but the Jack Channon-trained Johan looks capable of running well at a price.
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