It’s the first day of the Flat season in the UK on Saturday and the prestigious Lincoln Handicap takes centre stage at Doncaster.
The last two winners of the race turn up for another crack for the £77,000 prize at Town Moor.
Colm Doyle has two picks for the race, including an each-way selection at a double figure price.
3.00 - Midlands Grand National (Class 1, 4m2f)
3.35 - Lincoln Handicap (1m)
2022’s winner Johan and last year’s winner Migration are both in this year’s line-up and the pair have reasonable claims of becoming the first horse since 1958 to win two renewals of the race.
Johan has the assistance of top Brazilian jockey Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle, but he probably has his work cut out from a career high handicap mark of 106.
Migration defied top weight last year and has to carry most again here. He’s struggled since last year’s win and he’s still 4lb above that mark, but he’s one who will certainly relish the testing conditions.
A high draw is usually a big advantage in this contest (seven of the last eight winners have had double figures draws) and one who can go well at a price is Spirit Genie.
He was only narrowly denied from a 3lb lower mark in a competitive handicap at Newmarket on his penultimate start and he can be forgiven his subsequent outing on all-weather given that he’s shown all his best form on turf. He may have also been ‘over the top’ at that point of the season.
His two career-best efforts both came on testing ground, including that narrow heavy ground defeat at Newmarket in November and he’s relatively lightly raced, having just made nine starts on turf.
There should be more to come from this son of Invincible Spirit and he’s best with a decent pace to aim at, something he looks guaranteed to get here. The yard form is another attractive factor with two winners from their last three runners.
Down at the bottom of the weights, he seems to have been forgotten about in the market and his four-month break isn’t a major concern for one from this yard. It’s also worth noting that the last six winners of this came into the contest without a prep run.
Another one who is worth considering at a price is Farhh To Shy. He’s not as attractively drawn in stall six, but there are a few reasons to think he could go well.
He was in good form at the back end of last season and he also goes well with some cut in the ground, as seen at Ascot at the start of last term.
The son of Farhh has looked steadily progressive through his career and the sire’s progeny tend to get better with age.
The booking of Benoit de la Sayette is eye-catching with the young rider winning two of the last three renewals of this race and he may be able to get over from his relatively low draw and come with a late run.
