THE PERTEMPS NETWORK LINCOLN
Saturday 1st April, 3:35pm
Al Muhbir @ 4/1
Awaal @ 9/2
Wanees @ 8/1
Baradar @ 9/1
Atrium @ 11/1
Montassib @ 12/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
And just like that, the Flat is back! Ditch the tweed and dust off your top hat for a trip to Doncaster that heralds the arrival of the Turf season 2023.
Charlie Fellowes, who holds six entries across the two days, hopes that course and distance winner Atrium can help his team make a flying start to the new campaign.
He said: “This has been the plan for Atrium since he was balloted out of the Balmoral. We decided to put him away, protect his mark and go to this race.”
With plenty of rain forecast to fall in the build-up to Saturday, Fellowes is confident his charge will enjoy ideal race conditions: “He loves a bit of cut in the ground which he’ll get, he loves a big-field handicap and he’s won over course and distance.”
He added: “I couldn’t be happier with him and I’m really looking forward to the race.”
What Cornelius says…
“Al Muhbir is up 7lb after an easy win on heavy ground. I think that there are others to look pretty hard at other than Al Muhbir. Although William Haggas’ horses are going very well at the moment.”
“Awaal will like the ground and he’s lightly raced. What was really striking about his last win was how he absolutely powered through the race. He’ll be ridden by James Doyle who has a good record in the Lincoln.”
“I really like Wanees. He needed to mature but he showed that towards the end of last season when beating William Haggas’ Montassib. He’s up 3lb, but Jim Crowley, who takes the ride, has a good record in the Lincoln. Wanees is a big player.”
“Baradar has some quality form, but he’s never won over a mile.”
“Atrium looked an improver last year, but the handicapper took notice and is taking no chances.”
“Majestic won the Cambridgeshire and could provide a dream start for Jack Channon in his first season, the Channon stable won the race last year, although there may be some ground issues there.”
“Montassib’s form is very good. His second at Haydock was good, his fourth at Ascot was good in August, and he won first time out last season.”
An outside shout…
“Empire State of Mind warrants a mention. He has 5lb taken off by a good apprentice [Taylor Fisher] and lots to recommend him in the form. The stable tends to do well with older horses. So, he looks an interesting contender.”
The verdict…
“This looks like a cracker. With Aintree only a fortnight away, sometimes the Flat season starts with a bit of a whimper, but this Lincoln should ensure it starts with a real bang!”
What to look out for…
1. Jim Crowley has enjoyed a productive all-weather campaign with 5 winners from just 10 rides.
Crowley enjoys a 21% strike rate at Doncaster in the last five years with that figure improving to 30% (6/20) when riding horses aged four or older. Wanees, his mount in the Lincoln, represents that age group.
2. William Haggas leads the way for the most winners in the Lincoln, having trained the winner on four occasions, most recently with Addeyb in 2018.
3. Thirteen of the last seventeen winners of the Lincoln were drawn in stall nine, or higher. Despite the straight course suggesting there shouldn’t be any draw bias, a middle-to-high draw appears to be fairly essential.
4. George Boughey has enjoyed a scorching season on the all-weather, sitting second in the all-weather trainer’s championship with 45 winners.
He will be looking to build on his record tally of 66 winners last season and saddles Baradar in the Lincoln.
5. After missing a large chunk of last season with a thumb injury, James Doyle has been firing in the winners all winter, operating at a 44% strike rate in 2023.
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