15:35 Doncaster

Saturday 1 April 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Betway Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) (Str)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 38.38s

(3)

Battle Of Marathon^v²⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: J Ryan| OR: 109

25/1

Excellent third in this race last year when drawn on the other side but still only one win to his name despite being rated 109. Likely to get some Black Type this year but this looks a tough ask off this weight and he has a bigger absence to overcome than the rest of his rivals.

Form: 835250-

(4)

Gabrial³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 108

16/1

2015 winner returns with 8lb more to carry this time around. Nearly always runs his race and placed twice in Group 1 company but hard to imagine he's as well-handicapped than some in here and there may be more pace on the other side so passed over this time around.

Form: 9-91042

(11)

You're Fired³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jordan Vaughan⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 107

33/1

Appears to enjoy a straight mile on a flat track but not been in any sort of form on the AW this winter and he's struggled in handicaps with this mark before. Jockey will have to be good value for his 3lb claim if he's to win.

Form: 002-670

(1)

Third Time Lucky²⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 101

12/1

Won the 2015 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket and appears to relish big field handicaps but drawn on the wing is often a negative in these races and struggles to score off marks in triple figures. Trainer has won this twice but he appears to have stronger runners in the race.

Form: 5-41305

(14)

Yuften²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 105

4/1

Fit from a recent spin on the AW when third in a Listed race at Wolverhampton, making eye-catching headway from last place and the second placed horse looks a progressive sort. Didn't look the easiest ride on that occasion but he'll enjoy the step back up in trip and gives the impression he's a Group class horse in a handicap. Still early days for this yard and one of the more interesting ones from a versatile draw and a jockey booked who rides the course well (23.4% strike-rate here).

Form: 4941-30

(2)

Oh This Is Us³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 105

7/2

C&D winner here before heading to Meydan and running well in two valuable handicaps. Jockey booking is eye-catching but draw unlikely to be ideal and may want faster ground than he's likely to get here.

Form: 1-35212

(8)

Top Notch Tonto²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 105

14/1

Just one win from his last 25 starts but looks feasibly treated from a handicapping perspective and proven on this ground. Claiming jockey has improved plenty over the winter and probably value for his 7lb claim so interesting to see if he can get a tune out of his mount, who is fit from a recent spin on the AW.

Form: 002-004

(13)

Zhui Feng³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Dwyer| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 102

14/1

One of the likelier front-runners in the line-up and he's likely to want to make it a thorough test of stamina, having proven himself over 1m2f. Reliant on the jockey getting the fractions right on the front end and fit from his run in the winter derby last time out but can look an awkward ride under pressure at times.

Form: 550-480

(9)

Dream Walker^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 101

66/1

Looks well suited to a straight mile and proven with cut in the ground. Well beaten last time out in a bid to make all on the AW but this looks more like his bag. Despite being suited by conditions, it's hard to imagine he's one of the better handicapped horses in the race.

Form: 1530-80

(21)

Donncha¹⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: R Eddery| OR: 100

7/1

Excellent second in the Spring Mile at this meeting last year and effective on rain softened ground. Lost his way a little towards the end of last season but still looks on a fair mark and his jockey has a good strike-rate of 19.88% at this course. Should be suited by his hold up style but drawn close to the wing isn't ideal.

Form: 3894-37

(16)

Steel Train²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100

28/1

Inconsistent performer who needs everything to drop right to be fully effective. Looks better on faster ground than he'll get here and would appear to be the yard's second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 000708

(5)

Eddystone Rock^h1⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 100

33/1

A very capable performer who won three times for Jonny Murtagh in Ireland last season. However, looks better suited to a bit further than this and yard debut was uninspiring at Lingfield earlier in the year.

Form: 1-34768

(22)

Emell^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: T J Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 100

33/1

Well-suited to the hustle and bustle of a big field handicap such as this but losing run is mounting up and his stirke-rate of two wins from 46 runs is uninspiring. Looks better suited to faster ground and draw far from ideal.

Form: 43587-9

(18)

Heaven's Guest¹⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100

33/1

Largely tried over 7f and well beaten on his two starts over this trip, including last year's renewal of this where he finished 16th. While he's versatile ground wise and his trainer has a good record in the race, he tends to come on for his seasonal reappearance and others look better suited to the mile.

Form: 0000-07

(12)

Lucy The Painter¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: E De Giles| OR: 100

50/1

C&D winner with a good overall strike-rate but most of her wins have come in small field affairs and she doesn't look particularly well-handicapped judged on her pair of starts in in handicaps last summer off 86 and 88. Never prevailed in a race better than a Class 4 and trainer's horses usually come on for their seasonal reappearance.

Form: 5359-09

(20)

Bravery¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100

20/1

Not won since winning a maiden at Dundalk for Aidan O'Brien last year but highly tried in Group/Listed company since. Hard to say he looks well-handicapped on yard debut but does get the vote of the stable jockey and trainer can improve these sorts. Interesting runner and any market support could be significant.

Form: 0540-17

(6)

George Cinq¹⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: George Scott| OR: 95

33/1

Won at Southwell when last seen earlier in the month but best performances on turf have come on faster ground than this. Jockey has a good record around here but his mount doesn't look well handicapped enough for this affair.

Form: 322129-

(15)

Instant Attraction²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 99

25/1

Failed to get involved at the Curragh when last seen but may have been not quite right for that affair and given a break since. Respectable seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last year following a close second at the Derby meeting and finished an excellent third in this last year. Trainer has a good record with horses returning from a break and he's versatile tactics wise, so he looks like a fascinating runner with rock solid form in the book. Any rain would aid his cause.

Form: 82270-0

(17)

Highland Colori^v¹⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 99

33/1

Unreliable type these days and just one win from his last 32 starts. Won an end of season handicap at York in good style last year but struggled twice since off his revised mark and probably wants quicker ground to be seen to best effect.

Form: 7165-04

(19)

Master Carpenter¹⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Lulu Stanford⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 99

20/1

Unplaced on his last 13 starts and while he's fallen to an attractive looking mark, he's probably better over a little further than this. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 3546-00

(10)

Dolphin Vista¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 99

12/1

One of the few who likes to be ridden prominently in here and he's well suited to a straight mike. Good strike-rate, having won four of his last ten and trainer has a good record so could be significant he's the stable jockey's choice. Could still have scope from this mark if he's progressed over the winter and drop back in trip unlikely to be an issue so he should be respected.

Form: 18615-5

(7)

Withernsea¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97

25/1

Tends to need his seasonal reappearance and seen to best effective in soft/heavy ground. Has finished well beaten on only two previous tries at this trip and others preferred.

Form: 0028-90

Forecasts

Oh This Is Us (7/2), Yuften (4/1), Donncha (7/1), Dolphin Vista (12/1), Third Time Lucky (12/1), Zhui Feng (14/1), Top Notch Tonto (14/1), Gabrial (16/1), Bravery (20/1), Master Carpenter (20/1), Withernsea (25/1), Instant Attraction (25/1), Battle Of Marathon (25/1), Steel Train (28/1), Eddystone Rock (33/1), You're Fired (33/1), Emell (33/1), Highland Colori (33/1), Heaven's Guest (33/1), George Cinq (33/1), Lucy The Painter (50/1), Dream Walker (66/1)

With very few front-runners in the line-up, it could pay to look at the runners who like to be ridden more prominently; Dolphin Vista and Zhui Feng fit that bill. The former gets the vote of Paul Hanagan, who is likely to have had the choice of the five Richard Fahey trainer runners and he has to be respected with the trainer's record in the race. Zhui Feng isn't the most reliable sort but he will plan to make this a stiff test of stamina and his recent comeback run in the Winter Derby was better than his finishing position suggests. However, it's INSTANT ATTRACTION who makes most appeal. Jedd O'Keeffe's runner has proven himself in big field handicaps and he still looks on a workable mark after several near misses last summer. Jack Garritty will be able to follow whichever side the pace is on from his draw (15) and he looks like a versatile type tactics wise, a quality often underestimated in tests such as this. Antepost favourite Yuften is respected but he looks opposable at what is likely to be a short-price come the off.