15:35 Doncaster

Saturday 30 March 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Unibet Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) (Str)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 1m 36.82s

(12)

Another Batt³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: George Scott| OR: 107| D

25/1

In decent form in Dubai this winter winning a valuable 7f handicap and fair fourths and fifths since stepped back to 6f. Only two career tries over 1m but was close fourth in Balmoral Handicap in latest. Tall order off this weight but not ruled out.

Form: 94-1845

(3)

Masham Star²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| C| D

33/1

Thrives on racing (this his 59th start early in his five-year-old season) and ended season with career best effort to win Italian Group Three. Midfield return at Wolverhampton which was in keeping with him looking handicapped to the hilt.

Form: 20851-6

(21)

Aquarium²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

40/1

Now 1lb lower than mark which he won a soft ground York handicap over 1m2f last autumn after three modest efforts in Meydan. Better latest at Wolverhampton and mark is within range but this could now be sharp enough.

Form: 00-9085

(1)

Zwayyan²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

10/1

Returned at Wolverhampton seemingly better than ever earlier this month beating several of these rivals over 1m½f. Arrives here off career high mark but in form which many of these are far from certain to be so early in the campaign.

Form: 31200-1

(17)

Auxerre^p¹⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 100| D

5/2

Long-time ante-post favourite for this having won last three of four career starts. Comfortable wins in novice races at Haydock and Chelmsford followed by first handicap at Kempton. Could be a Group horse but whether any value remains debatable.

Form: 2111-

(18)

Saltonstall^t²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 100| D

10/1

Ante-post gamble won a decent good ground 1m handicap at Curragh last May but struggled afterwards. Only 2lb higher than aforementioned win now however and well drawn alongside the favourite. Interesting contender.

Form: 231000-

(16)

South Seas¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: P A Kirby| OR: 100

20/1

Group winning two-year-old plummeted down the weights in fruitless 2018 season in handicaps. Hard to believe he's far away from being competitive now off this new lowest ever mark and new stable may reinvigorate.

Form: 460520-

(20)

Silver Quartz²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 100| BF| D

33/1

Now juts 1lb higher that last win for Hugo Palmer but yet to really fire for this yard (four races). Well behind Zwayyan and several others latest at Wolverhampton so hard to be confident.

Form: 0175-30

(15)

Waarif¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

25/1

Won four times last season and remained in good form to the end with second at York penultimately before ninth of 20 in valuable Balmoral handicap to end season. Hard to think he's well enough handicapped for a race like this.

Form: 141029-

(14)

Breden²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 99| BF| D

40/1

Only 1L behind Zwayyan last time out and 3lb better off here so reversal not out of the question. Certainly in good order despite advancing age but doesn't appeal as the sort for a race such as this.

Form: 011-242

(9)

Ripp Orf¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 98| BF| D

14/1

Hugely progressive last season winning four times including a couple of valuable pots at Ascot. Only 1lb higher than second in Ascot Challenge Cup penultimately and although 7f may be preferred he is still very much respected here.

Form: 341429-

(22)

Kynren¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R Winston| T: T D Barron| OR: 98| D

9/2

Looked well handicapped and sure to win a valuable contest last season after close third in John Smith's Cup at York but continued to close without success. Handicap falls again and still convinced he will win such a race, big player.

Form: 203265-

(2)

Wahash²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 98| D

33/1

Turf record of none from 16 does little to inspire and behind Zwayyan and a host of other rivals here on return when 10th at Wolverhampton. Could argue he's well handicapped but others more compelling.

Form: 65246-0

(13)

Raydiance¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 98

33/1

Listed winning two-year-old found life ever tougher as 2018 progressed with season culminating in 18th of 20 in Balmoral handicap behind a whole host of these. Little to say he's well handicapped.

Form: 1/23700-

(5)

Humbert^p¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

14/1

Although all four career wins come on AW he's gone well in big field turf handicaps in the past. Ended last season out of form but only 1lb higher than last win as he starts out for this new yard so not completely ruled out here.

Form: 225170-

(7)

Third Time Lucky²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 98| D

25/1

Won only one of 13 starts in 2018 but made an encouraging return when third to Zwayyan at Wolverhampton earlier this month. Same mark here which still looks high enough so probably better chances further down the line.

Form: 41002-3

(4)

Ventura Knight²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| CD

25/1

Won three times in busy 2018 but struggled late on in the season and similar in winter AW campaign. Seventh to Zwayyan latest saw him behind a whole host of these so hard to fancy.

Form: 053-907

(19)

Great Prospector¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97

20/1

Not won since debut in 2017 and midfield AW efforts late on last season well short of the required. Handicap continues to fall but doubt it's enough yet.

Form: 740365-

(11)

Beringer¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A King| OR: 96

9/1

Won twice over 1m2f last June and remained in good form in next three before flopping in final start. That run can be forgotten now after a winter break and could very easily take up where he left off by making a bold bid.

Form: 112329-

Non-Runners

(6)

Safe Voyage¹⁶¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: J & S Quinn J: Jason Hart

(8)

Chiefofchiefs³⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: C Fellowes J: Harry Bentley

(10)

Chatez⁹⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 8

T: A King J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Auxerre (5/2), Kynren (9/2), Beringer (9/1), Zwayyan (10/1), Saltonstall (10/1), Ripp Orf (14/1), Humbert (14/1), Chiefofchiefs (14/1), Safe Voyage (16/1), Great Prospector (20/1), South Seas (20/1), Another Batt (25/1), Third Time Lucky (25/1), Waarif (25/1), Ventura Knight (25/1), Wahash (33/1), Silver Quartz (33/1), Raydiance (33/1), Masham Star (33/1), Chatez (33/1), Breden (40/1), Aquarium (40/1)

All of the talk in the run up to this has been Auxerre and him being potentially Group class like last year's similarly lightly raced winner and he certainly makes plenty of appeal but it's hard to believe he is now a value bet in such a competitive contest. Preference then is for KYNREN who wasn't beaten far in last year's John Smith's Cup, Cambridgeshire or Balmoral Handicap. He gets another ease from the handicapper here and looks a sound each-way investment as the main threat to Auxerre yet almost three times the price. Beringer is an interesting contender and best of the rest with a middle draw ideal however the race pans out.