Lincoln tips: Horse-by-horse guide to Doncaster handicap
Our man provides a runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.
Pertemps Network Lincoln (Heritage Handicap)
When: 3.35, Saturday April 1
Where: Doncaster
First prize: £77,310
Max field size: 22
TV: ITV & Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415)
Migration
Big improver in 2021, bagging quality 10-furlong handicaps at Goodwood and York, before starting last season with a neck second in the Spring Cup (7f) at Newbury. Well held in two autumn starts and now has something to prove, especially as he's top weight and still 3lb higher than when last successful.
Awaal
Another one who has been gelded since last seen, although he was on a real upward curve in 2022, defying a 157-day layoff to win in tremendous style on his handicap debut on heavy ground at Redcar in late-October. Bumped up 9lb for his troubles but looks an obvious one to step up again at four and stable clearly know the time of day. The more rain the better, reportedly.
Witch Hunter
Been on the go on the all-weather since November and generally performed very well, winning once. Yet to race beyond seven furlongs, though, and he's been edging up the weights for being beaten lately which is never easy to combat. Others are much preferred.
Greatgadian
Not won on turf since summer of 2021, adding a couple of Chelmsford victories to the CV last spring before finding things tough in some top-notch handicaps on the grass. Made a positive return to all-weather action this winter (without winning, admittedly) but looks a touch vulnerable to some of the less exposed ones in here.
Atrium
Bit of a straight-course machine and no doubt connections have Royal Ascot in mind this time around but things are going to get tougher after he signed off in 2022 with back-to-back 1m handicap wins at Newbury and this track. Revised rating of 100 demands another career best and while that's perfectly plausible, he might have to settle for a supporting role first time back (needed run on seasonal debut last term).
Boardman
Rock-solid handicapper over 7f and a mile in the north. Won second time out for the past two seasons so no surprise if the recent comeback run in the Wolverhampton trial was used as a stepping-stone for this valuable pot. The handicapper is clearly keen to have another look as he's been left on the same mark, which is still 4lb higher than when last successful, so hard to see him bagging top spot in race this competitive.
Safe Voyage
Brilliant servant to the John Quinn yard and heartening to see him back for more as a 10-year-old this season. Ended the last with a highly creditable fourth in the 20-runner Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day at Ascot so clearly still capable, but suspect he'll remain there to be shot at for the time being.
Empirestateofmind
Stable and owner-mate of Safe Voyage and he's been third and second in two starts at this track, the latter of which saw him finish just half a length behind Atrium here in September. Backed that up with another rock-solid runner-up effort at York in October and, given yard's ability to eke more from their older horses, another bold bid would come as no surprise.
Montassib
Looks versatile ground-wise which will stand him in good stead and yard clearly in good shape after trainer won the Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh last weekend. This lightly-raced five-year-old missed the whole of 2021 but made up for lost time with wins at Wetherby and Haydock early on last season. Maintained his form really well in the face of some difficult handicap assignments into the summer/autumn, and likely there's more to come starting out off 1lb higher mark this year.
Baradar
Won twice as a juvenile for Roger Varian in 2020 before being sent to Johnny Murtagh last season but, after no joy in five appearances, twitchy owners switched him to George Boughey in the autumn and he struck gold at the first attempt in a 7f course handicap. Raised just 4lb which looks fair (fourth and fifth have won since) but he's back into a deeper race now and also has to fully prove he stays the mile.
Bopedro
Another more mature campaigner who has been around a few yards but looks significant he's joined Lincoln-winning trainer David O'Meara for whom he showed some promising signs in five starts last year. Ended the 2022 campaign with a staying-on second to Totally Charming over 7f here in October and although back up 1lb for that, he's still decidedly well handicapped on the pick of his form for Jessica Harrington in Ireland. Has won in big fields and on a range of going descriptions so plenty to like from an each-way perspective.
Al Mubhir
Newmarket maiden winner (sole start at two) who had hinted that he might have a lot more to offer prior to a fairly explosive handicap success when dropped back to this 1m trip at Haydock in October. Clearly relished the heavy conditions on that occasion so an unsettled forecast looks a plus for him and every chance he can take this step up in class in his stride from just a 7lb higher mark (his dam won Listed races).
Croupier
Looks a bit of a lurker as he was ticking along at a steady rate of progression before putting in a massive effort to win going away at Chelmsford in mid-October. The handicapper has reacted with a 7lb rise but hard to know if that'll be enough to anchor him, provided he's stepped up again as you might expect for a four-year-old colt. Has won twice on turf too but it was good ground both times so the prospect of genuinely soft here might be an issue.
Jimi Hendrix
Promising at two and definitely going the right way in the spring of his three-year-old campaign before losing his way at the back-end of the summer, and didn't react well to a step up in distance in the autumn. Been gelded over the winter so connections hoping he's refreshed and ready to resume his progress, but it looks a tough enough race in which to bounce back.
Wanees
Won in first-time hood on seasonal/handicap debut at Sandown last April before two subsequent lesser efforts encouraged connections to have him gelded. That paid off handsomely at the first time of asking, sticking on well to get the better of reopposing Montassib at Haydock (good to soft) in September (replay below). Looks to have been laid out for this since and not hard to see him managing to cope with a 3lb higher mark. Unquestionably one of the more obvious contenders for top spot.
Watch Race Replay
Unlimited race replays of all UK & Irish racing
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Eilean Dubh
Enjoyed a remarkable time of things last year, landing four decent handicaps all over a mile. Rating took an inevitable rise, though, and he was comfortably held on his reappearance in the Wolverhampton trial earlier this month. Is surely going to need a bit of respite from the assessor before returning to the winners' enclosure.
Toshizou
Formerly trained by Joseph O'Brien and snapped up by the shrewd Nick Bradley for 22,000 guineas from the autumn horses-in-training sale. Fascinating to see which way he goes in the market as he clearly has plenty of ability but wasn't the easiest to train by all accounts.
Encourageable
Won a Wolverhampton novice last April and picked up first handicap success in a small-field mile event at Thirsk in early-September. Beaten three lengths by reopposing Wanees off this 5lb higher mark at Haydock last time out and he lacks the obvious class and potential of some of these so likely to start among the outsiders.
Revich
Been around the block a bit now and he's run some fine races in some of the top handicaps around this sort of trip but sixth two years ago and only 15th in this last season so there's a real sense his time to land a Lincoln has possibly been and gone.
Helm Rock
Enjoyed a progressive time of things in 2022, winning twice at a much lower level before landing a nice pot at Haydock in September. Went up 7lb for that and was seemingly quite well fancied when bidding to follow up at York but couldn't get competitive when it mattered and he consequently looks handicapped up the max for this.
Majestic
Undoubtedly the big eyecatcher at the bottom of the weights as he was last seen scooting to victory under a low weight in the hugely competitive Cambridgeshire over 9f at Newmarket on September 24. Very interesting to see if he can pick up where he left off as 7lb doesn't look beyond him on the face of it, and same stable won this last year so very much a player.
Yanifer
Has had the pipe-opener in the Wolverhampton trial earlier in the month but his two October handicap wins came over 7f and in a lower grade so he looks short of the requisite class for this kind of challenge, despite still holding a little bit of potential to win more races from marks in the 90s at some stage.
VERDICT
Al Mubhir looked a soft-ground monster when storming home in the Haydock mud when last seen and it's hard to believe the handicapper has now got him exactly where he wants him off a 7lb higher mark.
Stablemate Montassib could go very well too if ready to rumble first time back but he's got a job on in reversing form with Wanees, who appears another massive player on his seasonal return.
Bopedro made plenty of appeal at long odds a week ago but he's probably about the right sort of price now, while Croupier is quite a hard horse to get a handle on as he seemed to improve out of recognition at Chelmsford in October.
However, Croupier's trainers Simon and Ed Crisford can also call upon AWAAL and he looks certain to go well on the ground, with James Doyle booked to do the steering. He beat the subsequent Britannia winner Thesis in a Lingfield novice last May and everything seemed to click into place when faced with testing conditions on handicap debut at Redcar. He's got genuine Group-race potential and could be very hard to beat.
More from Sporting Life
Full results and free video replays
Download our free iOS and Android app
Football and other sports tips
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
