Check out our runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's Betway Lincoln at Doncaster, with a familiar face fancied to go well.
Battle Of Marathon - 5yo 9-10 OR: 109 (T: J Ryan, J: A Kirby)
Trained to the minute for this event 12 months ago and put his race-fitness to good use (had been out in Meydan) with a bold bid in third. Went on to post a couple of fine efforts at Ascot but tailed off last there on his most recent public outing, so clearly not all has gone to plan. Also resumes from a higher mark than last year and looks vulnerable to less exposed, younger types even if resuming somewhere near his best after 266 days out of action.
Gabrial - 8yo 9-9 OR: 108 (T: R Fahey, J: Adam McNamara 3lb)
Overall profile an extremely patchy one but he’s generally been mixing in Group company for the past couple of years after winning this event in 2015 from a mark of 100. Only scored once since then, in a Listed race at Windsor last summer, and hasn’t shown enough in three starts overseas this year to suggest he can defy current lofty rating of 108.
You’re Fired - 6yo 9-8 OR: 107 (T: K Burke, J: Jordan Vaughan 3lb)
Recorded back-to-back handicap wins towards the end of 2015 and stepped up again last term with victory from a mark of 102 at Haydock. Couldn’t quite compete at the height of the summer but mark has reduced slightly again and now only 3lb higher than when last successful. Fit from two runs at Lingfield this winter and not without hope if bringing his A-game on rain-softened ground.
Third Time Lucky - 5yo 9-7 OR: 101 (T: R Fahey, J: Connor Murtagh 7lb)
Relatively unexposed on turf, where his career record reads an impressive five wins and four places from 16 outings. Knocking on the door on the all-weather all winter and finally let in when landing a conditions event at Wolverhampton in February. Another solid run since back in handicap company at Lingfield and he could conceivably pull out a bit more improvement returned to grass this year.
Yuften - 6yo 9-6 OR: 105 (T: R Charlton, J: A Atzeni)
Onto his third trainer now but has always possessed plenty of potential having been competitive in Group company as a juvenile. Lost his way for Johnny Murtagh last summer but performed really well in all three starts for Roger Charlton and ran the perfect prep for this when flashing home from the back to finish third at Wolverhampton. Stepping back up to a mile – the distance over which he won Ascot’s Balmoral Handicap in October – looks certain to suit while he won’t mind the forecast rain. Very solid chance.
Oh This Is Us - 4yo 9-6 OR: 105 (T: R Hannon, J: R L Moore)
Highly progressive colt early last year and maintained his improvement at the end of the season with a neck victory over seven furlongs here in November. Has shown up really well in a couple of starts over in Meydan in February and looks to hold obvious claims on that basis. Potential negatives are that he’s not conclusively proven that a mile is his best trip, while any ease underfoot would have to be considered a negative. Otherwise, he fits most of the prominent trends and Ryan Moore has been secured in the saddle.
Top Notch Tonto - 7yo 9-6 OR: 105 (T: B Ellison, J: Ben Robinson 7lb)
Has built quite a strong following over the years, not least for his appearance - being a flashy chestnut complete with impressive blaze and four white socks. Career highlight remains his second to Olympic Glory in the 2013 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot but he remains capable of high-class form and went close to landing a big pot at the Galway Festival last summer. Only raced once since then but Wolverhampton would never have suited his style and last month’s spin there is entitled to have brought him forward. Must have some give in the ground and could prove a big danger to all under 7lb claiming rider.
Zhui Feng - 4yo 9-3 OR: 102 (T: A J Perrett, J: M Dwyer)
Has won in a variety of conditions but doesn’t want the ground to get too deep if he’s to show his best form. Made a pleasing return to competitive action when beaten less than a length in the Group Three Winter Derby at Lingfield in February and safe to expect normal degree of improvement from that. Defying his new, career-high turf mark of 107 demands a bit more than that, though, and chances are he’ll find something slightly better handicapped on the day.
Dream Walker - 8yo 9-2 OR: 101 (T: B Ellison, J: B A Curtis)
Same connections as Top Notch Tonto and while he doesn’t possess the same back-class as that stablemate, he was never better than last year as a seven-year-old. Form tailed off towards the end of the season, though and he’s still 8lb higher in the weights than when winning at Galway. Expected to be available at long odds and hard to argue with that despite the ground seemingly coming in his favour.
Donncha - 6yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: R Eddery, J: J P Spencer)
Possibly hasn’t won quite as many races as he ought to have but nothing wrong with his form throughout last season, which started with a neck second behind Lord Of The Rock in the Spring Mile (Lincoln consolation race) over this course and distance. Doesn’t get much respite from the handicapper given his consistency but looks sure to land a big one at some stage in 2017 and the booking of Jamie Spencer could be the making of him as he’s invariably held up for a late run.
Steel Train - 6yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: D O'Meara, J: Shelley Birkett 3lb)
Did well for previous trainer in France but possibly found the testing ground against him on several occasions and has preferred racing in Britain. Three wins for David O’Meara have come on good to firm (twice) and the Tapeta at Newcastle, so obvious concerns if heavy rain arrives and he’s yet to fully convince that he wants a mile. Enough to prove following three lacklustre runs on the all-weather since the turn of the year.
Eddystone Rock - 5yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: J R Best, J: K Fox)
St Moritz experiment didn’t really work with two low-key runs out in Switzerland in February but had made a decent start for new trainer when close third at Lingfield prior to that. Left Johnny Murtagh’s yard on a steep upward curve last season so could come good at some stage for John Best but hard to be overly confident that he’ll be good enough to shake up some of the young guns in this red-hot field.
Emell - 7yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: R Hannon, J: T J Murphy)
Frustrating horse to follow but two career wins from 46 starts probably doesn’t strictly do him justice. A fair sixth when 66/1 in this event 12 months ago and another similar effort would come as no surprise, but comes here 5lb lower in the weights this time so entitled to be there or thereabouts.
Heaven’s Guest - 7yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: R Fahey, J: Sammy Jo Bell 3lb)
Has been a fabulous servant to connections with several excellent runs in high-profile handicaps, including a couple last season. It was, however, the first year he’s gone without winning a race and though his rating has dipped slightly as a result, it could be a sign that he’s perhaps not quite as sharp as he once was. Unsuccessful at this track on past four seasonal debuts so hard to envisage him breaking that run now.
Lucy The Painter - 5yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: E De Giles, J D C Costello)
Incredible start to last season with four wins (was disqualified on first of those), including handicap success from a mark of 78 at this track at the end of April. Continued to perform with credit through 2017 and her ability to handle any type of ground is an obvious positive with rain around. She also goes well fresh but her current mark of 100 looks on the stiff side.
Bravery - 4yo 9-1 OR: 100 (T: D O'Meara, J: D Tudhope)
The fact he’s switched from Aidan O’Brien to David O’Meara is enough to pique the interest alone, but he also boasts some eyecatching form including an outing in Group One company during his extremely busy three-year-old campaign. Handicapper isn’t taking any chances with a BHA mark of 100 for this, while dropping back half a mile in trip from his last public outing is a little peculiar, but not one to dismiss lightly.
George Cinq - 7yo 9-1 OR: 95 (T: George Scott, J: Oisin Murphy)
Built up plenty of experience with Michael Bell, without ever quite making his mark in this sort of grade, but two wins already for new trainer, who has had this race in mind since his Southwell victory in the middle of March. Doesn’t look obviously well treated under a 5lb penalty but he has some smart course form including a victory and he could run a huge race at rewarding odds.
Instant Attraction - 6yo 9-0 OR: 99 (T: Jedd O'Keeffe, T: J Garritty)
Third in last year’s Spring Mile and he filled the same position over seven furlongs at this meeting the year before. Obviously no issues with the track and soft ground holds no fears at all, but current mark of 99 leaves no margin for error and vulnerable to one or two more unexposed types.
Highland Colori - 9yo 9-0 OR: 99 (T: A M Balding, J: D Probert)
Getting a bit long in the tooth but the fitting of blinkers for the first time, together with a much-reduced handicap mark, sparked him back to life for career win number 10 at York in October. Subsequent rise in the weights caught him out at the end of the season and still 4lb higher than for that victory so he’s not an obvious one to be siding with in a race of this nature.
Master Carpenter - 6yo 9-0 OR: 99 (T: B R Millman, J: Lulu Stanford 5lb)
Slumped in the weights since last career win at York in summer of 2015 but no real sign of resurgence through last year and despite looking like he’ll get his favoured soft ground, more compelling cases can be made for plenty of others.
Dolphin Vista - 4yo 9-0 OR: 99 (T: R Fahey, J: P Hanagan)
Lurking dangerously near the foot of the weights and interesting to see Paul Hanagan booked to ride him for the first time in his career. Has been gelded over the winter and that could see him take another big step forward this term. Overall profile is one of steady progression and dropping back from a mile and a quarter on potentially soft ground should be ideal, while his yard has already been firing in the winners this year.
Withernsea - 6yo 8-12 OR: 97 (T: R Fahey, J: T Hamilton)
Solid handicapper, primarily over seven furlongs, although a mile should be within his compass at this stage in his career. Likes to get his toe in but no leeway from mark of 97 and a big run in defeat would appear the most likely scenario despite sneaking in right at the foot of the weights.
There's been plenty of money around for Donncha which suggests he's in good order ahead of his seasonal return but a more recent outing would obviously be preferable and there are some classy operators coming here on the back of eyecatching prep runs. Yuften appeals most of those right at the top of the market but the experienced TOP NOTCH TONTO looks to have everything in his favour following a spin at Wolverhampton and he's got course form to his name, like the last seven Lincoln winners. George Cinq is a dual Doncaster winner and looked as good as he's ever been at Southwell; he could represent the best each-way value, along with the returning Dolphin Vista under Paul Hanagan.