Jamie Lynch offers his verdict on the 22 runners forward of the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster, stay on Sky Sports activities Racing.
We’re somewhat lighter on the prime finish than normal for the one-mile handicap – due off at 3.35pm on Saturday – with solely 4 of the runners rated 100+.
There’s typically double that, although what’s acquainted and gasoline to the hearth is that over a 3rd of the sector are four-year-olds, most of whom nonetheless have enchancment in them, invariably the magic ingredient for a Lincoln winner.
Let’s dive into the Doncaster line-up….
1. Galeron (Draw 11)
Jockey: Jason Watson | Coach: Charlie Hills
This horse frolicked in Group Ones as a three-year-old and spent final yr in Australia for Annabel Neasham, with out success. He is nonetheless hitting ranges to earn him top-weight on this reunion with Charlie Hills and can go off an enormous worth for certainly one of his potential, however there’s an excessive amount of guesswork to be backing him.
2. Sean (9)
William Carver | Jamie Osborne
Sean has been within the twilight zone ever since being transferred from Germany in the beginning of final yr, discovering Group races a bit a lot and his handicap mark a bit excessive. This was encapsulated by his newest stint in Dubai, and a mile is possibly on the brief aspect for him right here.
3. Midnight Gun (13)
James Doyle | Hamad Al Jehani
The coach remains to be an unfamiliar identify, although Hamad Al Jehani had a 20 per cent strike-rate in his first season in Britain, as a boutique steady for Wathnan. In any other case Midnight Gun has precisely the profile that you simply gravitate in direction of for a Lincoln, being a well-bred four-year-old with a contact of sophistication and few miles on the clock. The handicapper might have been harsher for his take a look at run over this course and distance final outing when clear with Harper’s Ferry.
4. Thunder Run (19)
Clifford Lee | Karl Burke
Trying again, it is a rarer prevalence than I had thought within the Lincoln – Penitent and Addeybb the one two this century – but when there’s the proverbial Group horse in a handicap on this renewal then it is Thunder Run. He did not debut till final June and ended up ending a positive fourth as favorite for a Balmoral which went extra the best way of these patiently ridden.
Thunder Run goes for Lincoln glory on Saturday
One phrase of warning is that Karl Burke famous “a few niggles” for Thunder Run, so the logical leap is that he is probably not wound up tight for this.
5. Two Tempting (10)
Rob Hornby | Jonathan Portman
This runner was one of many handicappers of 2024 along with his 5 wins of accelerating significance however has inevitably paid a worth along with his mark. That will be an apparent and ongoing impediment even when he comes on from his fifth within the Wolverhampton trial.
6. Apiarist (7)
Tom Eaves | Kevin Ryan
Apiarist ran effectively with out full reward in seven months and eight races on turf final yr earlier than the transformative flip to the all-weather, on which he is all of the stronger, boasting three from 5 this winter. The query – or furthermore the doubt – is whether or not the development is transferrable to turf the place his ranking has risen in line (additionally 1lb badly in with a penalty).
7. Twin Id (1)
Brandon Wilkie (5) | William Knight
Migration confirmed that seven-year-olds can win the Lincoln, albeit the primary for 36 years, although age is however a quantity for Twin Id who was higher than ever in 2024. He at all times wants a number of runs to rise up to hurry and saves his successes for Sandown these days.
8. Orne (4)
Luke Catton (5) | John and Thady Gosden
This take a look at represents one other shift in emphasis for him, not solely as a result of this will probably be his first handicap. His ranking has slipped from its peak of 103 round this time final yr, but additionally as he is pointed again as much as a mile after his final 4 runs over six furlongs, on prime of a four-month break. It is onerous to know the place he suits on the earth.
9. Lattam (12)
Ryan Sexton | Julie Camacho
Lattam – winner of the 2023 Irish Lincolnshire
Though a lot is made (by me) of the worth of four-year-olds, the final three Lincoln winners have been older horses with loads of ‘earlier’ in such races – precisely like Lattam, the runner-up final yr and winner of the Irish Lincoln in 2023. His document after absences of three months or extra reads 1122, the latter second within the Balmoral – a lifetime greatest by him. In brief, Lattam speaks for himself, and these are simply the handicaps during which he raises his voice.
10. Toimy Son (18)
Warren Fentiman (5) | David Menuisier
Toimy Son contested Group Ones in his youthful days in France and, after taking his time acclimatising, he was resurgent within the second half of final yr. He completed third within the Cambridgeshire and sixth within the Balmoral however the yard are but to have a winner this yr (from simply 13 makes an attempt) though received this with Migration who was likewise claimer ridden.
11. Whip Cracker (8)
Finley Marsh | Richard Hughes
All the explanations he was all the fad for the Lincoln Trial are nonetheless in play right here, and Wolverhampton did not get close to the underside of him because the race went. He’s nonetheless serving a goal for this important occasion and the best hits of his three-year-old profession – involving Jayarebe and Bolster – give him an enormous probability in right here off 97.
12. Incredible Fox (17)
Aidan Keeley | Roger Varian
It is most likely no coincidence that his final three wins have come on the all-weather. He is extra snug and medical on that floor, however even on synthetics he is by no means received off a mark this excessive. I might say he’s up towards it.
13. Mr Professor (22)
David Egan | Raphael Freire
Amo Racing’s runner was the left-field Lincoln winner final yr (33/1) when the very testing floor introduced his stamina into play. We noticed nothing from him in the remainder of the season and he is nonetheless 4lb greater now, on floor nothing like the identical.
Mr Professor received this race final time period beneath David Egan
14. Magnum Opus (16)
Harry Davies | Simon and Ed Crisford
Has been busy in Dubai, profitable a handicap which went his means (from the rear), however selecting up a penalty for this because of this, requiring one other stage which I am unsure is in him, and he has largely been refrained from straightforward floor.
15. Oliver Present (15)
Billy Loughnane | George Boughey
He grew up and stepped up final yr upon becoming a member of George Boughey and carried on the great work in Bahrain after managing second in a Listed race there earlier within the month. Nonetheless, he is handicapped to the hilt, and he is by no means earlier than been in a race just like the Lincoln.
16. Godwinson (3)
Cieren Fallon | William Haggas
A possible lad if just for the steady he represents, William Haggas having received the Lincoln 4 instances. Above that, he proved a fixture in these hotter handicaps final yr and it is value remembering that he ought to have received the Spring Cup first outing. This will probably be simply his tenth race, too, however the wheels of progress had stopped turning by the top of final yr.
17. Alpha Crucis (20)
Rhys Clutterbuck | Gary and Josh Moore
Gary and Josh Moore’s cost completed fourth on this at 28/1 on his reappearance in 2024 and returns extra achieved this yr, however the softer the bottom the higher his probability, and the specified downpour hasn’t materialised.
18. Native Warrior (21)
Kieran Shoemark | Karl Burke
Kieran Shoemark’s mount is a profiler’s dream for the Lincoln, and what’s nonetheless on the forefront of the thoughts is how brilliantly he ran within the straight-mile Britannia when third general (of 29) however first in his group. However for stablemate Thunder Run and team-mate Midnight Gun, the highlight could also be shinier nonetheless on the newly-gelded Native Warrior. He has the potential and the pedigree (by Wootton Bassett) to be bit higher than 93.
19. Orandi (2)
Rossa Ryan | Tony Martin
None have succeeded however by my reckoning Chazzesmee final yr is the one one to have tried to double up after the Irish Lincolnshire. There’s two weeks between the races this time, giving extra of an opportunity to Orandi – who overcame visitors and 26 rivals on the Curragh and is 4lb effectively in beneath a penalty. The Irish handicapper has since reassessed him at 97.
20. Beringer (6)
Callum Shepherd | Alan King
It is six years since he was third within the Lincoln, and this will probably be solely his third race since 2020. Points have inhibited his profession and he returns from one other prolonged lay-off right here.
21. Dashing Darcey (5)
David Allan | Geoffrey Harker
This horse was a dear buy (110,000 gns) from Roger Varian however is a four-year-old nonetheless wanting up. The belief is that this can be a getting-to-know-you run, from a mark he is been crushed on his final three begins.
22. Outdated Cock (14)
Callum Rodriguez | Ed Bethell
He did not begin out till final April, doing loads in in little time, with three wins alongside the best way, although alongside the hits had been some moody misses when he appeared to throw within the towel. Has the profile and the physique of 1 who’ll climb greater as a four-year-old however that is asking various him first time again, in by far the strongest race he is confronted.
Jamie Lynch’s verdict
He is probably not as attractive as some however Whip Cracker remains to be a traditional contender for the Lincoln as a four-year-old with some very robust type to his identify. He is the value he’s due to his defeat (as agency favorite) within the trial at Wolverhampton, which appears to be held towards him. That stated, it was nigh-on unimaginable to win that messy race from his place, and so he will get the worth vote right here.
Watch each race of the Lincoln assembly at Doncaster stay on Sky Sports activities Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 March.
