The flat turf season steps up a gear tomorrow with the Lincoln Handicap which is the 3.10 at Doncaster. The race used to be held at Lincoln until that racecourse closed. The last Lincoln run there was in 1964 when Mighty Ghurka was the winner ridden by Peter Robinson.
My initial fancies for this year’s renewal were Taqleed and Our Joe Mac. Neither looks to have an ideal draw but I will stick with them. Taqleed looks to be potentially better than handicap class, is lightly raced and has already had a taste of big field handicaps as he was 6th in the Cambridgeshire. Our Joe Mac was a winner at Haydock last season and ran several creditable races in defeat. It may turn out that he needs a bit further and some more give in the ground but he is worth a small each way here. Another to consider is Irish Heartbeat who won at this meeting last season.
In the 2.05 my selection is the lightly raced Eton Forever. He won at Kempton last May beating Afsare who went on to win at Royal Ascot.
Bated Breath won his first 3 starts last season and looks a horse to follow in sprints this term. He runs in the 2.35.
Communicator was a promising 4th in a back end maiden at Newmarket last season over 7 furlongs. Bred to get further he should be able to improve on his debut run in the 4.15.
Over the jumps at Chepstow I am torn between Rangitoto and Storming Gale in the 2.45. Rangitoto gets 6 lbs pull at the weights and that might just give him the edge.
Picture courtesy of the artist Jo Stockdale.
Good luck
ahorse 