3 minutes The Flat season gets underway this weekend as Doncaster Racecourse hosts the William Hill Lincoln on Saturday
The Flat season gets underway this weekend as Doncaster Racecourse hosts the William Hill Lincoln on Saturday. This season’s curtain-raiser promises to be a thrilling renewal with a full complement of 22 entries confirmed on Thursday. With so many possible winners to pick through, here at betting.bet we’ve selected some of the race’s standout options, providing the latest race odds courtesy of sponsors, William Hill.
Liberty Lane looks set to start the Lincoln as race favourite despite bombing in the Cambridgeshire last time out. The Karl Burke-trained four-year-old did win over C&D last September, defeating the 106-rated Sonny Liston in the process. Gelded over the winter and certainly cannot be ruled out here.
Awaal runs off the same mark as he did when second in this race twelve months ago and is certainly capable of going one better on Saturday. Placed in both the Royal Hunt Cup and Bunbury Cup last summer but was some 11 ½ lengths behind race winner, The Gatekeeper in the Balmoral Handicap last time out. A real draw bias could excuse that sub-par run at Ascot but he’s a little short in the betting.
The Gatekeeper also lines up in this on Saturday and predictably has been well-supported given that Balmoral win last October. 4lbs higher than when winning at Ascot but both trainer and jockey have a good record in this race so he has to be respected.
Chazzesmee is eyeing a quick-fire double having landed the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh last weekend. This is certainly a tougher assignment but obviously in form and will cope with the heavy ground we’re anticipating.
Last year’s winner, Migration, is back aiming to become the first horse to retain the Lincoln since Babur in 1958. Has been unconvincing in three runs since and carries top weight this time around however, Paddy Bradley has been booked to ride and will take 3lbs off. Last year’s winning jockey, Benoit de la Sayette rides 33/1 chance, Farhh To Shy for George Margeson as he aims for a third win in four years.
William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) Odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Lane | 70410- | K R Burke | C Lee | 4/1 |
| Awaal | 33030- | S & E Crisford | Harry Davies | 5/1 |
| Chazzesmee | 112-1 | J A Stack | J M Sheridan | 11/2 |
| Lattam | 10357- | Miss J A Camacho | Ryan Sexton | 9/1 |
| The Gatekeeper | 01041- | C Johnston | J Fanning | 9/1 |
| Johan | 80/15- | J Channon | S De Sousa | 10/1 |
| Migration | 1509- | D Menuisier | Paddy Bradley | 11/1 |
| Vetiver | 14135- | A M Balding | David Probert | 14/1 |
| Thunder Ball | 46D71- | P & Cole | Alec Voikhansky | 14/1 |
| Blues Emperor | 11628- | J P Murtagh | B M Coen | 14/1 |
| Dutch Decoy | 13606- | C Johnston | Connor Beasley | 18/1 |
| Revich | 40310- | R Spencer | Jason Hart | 22/1 |
| Navagio | 02181- | James Horton | R Kingscote | 25/1 |
| Mr Professor | 24126- | D J S Ffrench | David Egan | 33/1 |
| Alpha Crucis | 12516- | G L Moore | Anna Gibson | 33/1 |
| Farhh To Shy | 51033- | G G Margarson | Benoit D L Sayette | 33/1 |
| Parlando | 245-41 | Ian Williams | S D Bowen | 40/1 |
| Hieronymus | 5-1341 | George Baker | Aidan Keeley | 50/1 |
| Spirit Genie | 88129- | J Candlish | K T O'Neill | 50/1 |
| One Night Thunder | 32540- | G Tutty | Laura Coughlan | 50/1 |
| Chuzzlewit | 4-5941 | K A Ryan | S A Gray | 50/1 |
| Bass Player | 9930-0 | K Frost | George Rooke | 66/1 |
