*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
A maximum field of 22 runners are set to go to post in the Lincoln Handicap, the first big race of the Flat turf season in Britain, on Saturday.
William Haggas fires two darts – Al Mubhir and Motassib – in his bid to become the leading trainer in the history of the one-mile contest, which is worth £77,310 to connections of the first past the post.
Migration, who was fourth in the Listed James Seymour Stakes on his final appearance last season, heads the weights off a mark of 107 but leading claimer Benoit De La Sayette shaves off a valuable 3lbs.
Lincoln Handicap odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise Timeform’s horse-by-horse guide to the runners and betting tips from the racing boffins are below.
Lincoln tips
Timeform: Simon and Ed Crisford saddled the runner-up in this last year and are taken to go one better this time courtesy of AWAAL, who made a mockery of an opening mark of 93 at Redcar last autumn and surely has more to come after only 4 starts. Baradar immediately got his career back on track for the George Boughey yard here last backend and could have more to come for his new stable so he’s second choice. Al Mubhir, whose trainer is seeking an outright record fifth win in this, is next on the list.
Lincoln runners
Migration
Trainer: David Menuisier Jockey: Benoit de la Sayette Age: 7 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 12
Smart performer who showed he can go well fresh and be very competitive off this sort of mark when going close in Newbury Sping Cup off 1 lb lower on last year’s reappearance. Benoit de la Sayette takes a handy 3 lb off.
***
Awaal
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: James Doyle Age: 4 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 17
Looked a likely type for this race when bolting up on 1m Redcar handicap debut (soft) last autumn. That was only his fourth start so major surprise if there isn’t more to come. Leading claims.
*****
Witch Hunter
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 4 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 20
Has done well since equipped with cheekpieces, winning at Wolverhampton in December and smart effort when going close at Lingfield 6 weeks ago (both 7f). Yet to show he’s as effective on turf, though, and also has stamina to prove tackling 1m for the first time.
**
Greatgadian
Trainer: Roger Varian Jockey: Aidan Keeley Age: 5 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 6
Useful handicapper who has been in decent form on AW this winter without suggesting he’s likely to be winning a race as competitive as this back on turf.
**
Atrium
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 13
Capped off a very solid 3-y-o campaign with a win in 16-runner C&D handicap (good to soft) in September, staying on to lead in the closing stages and beat Empirestateofmind by ½ length. Could have more to come this year. Respected.
****
Boardman
Trainer: Tim Easterby Jockey: David Allan Age: 7 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 19
Bagged another 3 handicaps on turf last spring and acquitted himself with credit from higher marks later in season. Shaped as if retaining all his ability when seventh of 13 in Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton on return. Should be spot on now.
***
Safe Voyage
Trainer: John Quinn Jockey: Jason Hart Age: 10 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 7
Veteran but still very useful last year, reaching the frame in valuable handicaps at Leopardstown (7f, soft) and Ascot (1m, good to soft) last autumn. Only mid-division in this on last year’s reappearance, though.
**
Empirestateofmind
Trainer: John Quinn Jockey: Taylor Fisher Age: 5 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 11
Better than ever in second half of 2022, winning 16-runner event at Thirsk (1m) and excellent runner-up efforts on final 2 starts, chasing home Atrium over C&D (16 ran) before going down only to a Haggas improver (20 ran) at York. Evidently well suited to big-field handicaps.
***
Montassib
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Cieren Fallon Age: 5 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 21
Progressive last year, scoring at Wetherby and Goodwood before posting some good efforts in top-end handicaps in midsummer, including fourth in Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot. Another fine run when second of 12 to Wanees over 1m at Haydock final start. Tongue tied first time.
***
Baradar
Trainer: George Boughey Jockey: Kevin Stott Age: 5 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Placed in Group 1 Futurity over C&D at 2. Spent the majority of the next 2 seasons in the doldrums but bounced back to form with a bang to make a winning start for new trainer George Boughey in a 7f course handicap (heavy) last November. Could be even more to come for this yard. Player.
****
Bopedro
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 7 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 18
Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021 and it didn’t take him long to find his feet for this new yard in the second half of last season, culminating with fine second of 15 over 7f here (heavy) in October. Stable always to be feared in these events.
****
Al Mubhir
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Andrea Atzeni Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Improved form encountering testing ground for the first time when winning 14-runner Haydock handicap (1m) on final 3-y-o start. Did that readily and it’s probable this lightly-raced type will kick on again this year. Trainer has won this 4 times.
****
Croupier
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: Harry Burns Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 14
Improved to win at Windsor in September. Met trouble when fifth to Helm Rock at Haydock next time and straight back on the up when seeing off 13 rivals at Chelmsford on final start. Potential for better again in 2023 but his best form has come under different conditions than he’ll face here.
***
Jimi Hendrix
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 8
Excellent third in the Britannia at Royal Ascot prior to narrowly landing a 1m handicap at Newmarket July meeting. Not so good later in the seson but no shock were he to revive after a break. Won a soft-ground maiden on previous visit here.
***
Wanees
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 4 Weight: 9st 1lbs Draw: 22
Largely progressive profile, bouncing back from a lesser run at Glorious Goodwood (failed to stay 1¼m) when seeing off a few of today’s rivals over 1m at Haydock on his final 3-y-o start. Likely capable of better again this year.
****
Eilean Dubh
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 1
5-y-o who was most progressive in bagging some valuable prizes last term, latterly a 10-runner York handicap (1m) on final start in July. Entitled to have needed his first outing in 8 months at Wolverhampton 3 weeks ago but he’ll need a big step forward to go close here.
**
Toshizou
Trainer: Roger Fell Jockey: Jonny Peate Age: 5 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 15
Possibly not the eaisest to train (never had more than 3 outings in a season) but he did quickly develop into a very useful handicapper for Joseph O’Brien in Ireland. New connections acquired him for 22,000 gns last autumn.
***
Encourageable
Trainer: James Horton Jockey: David Probert Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 3
AW novice winner who took a big jump forward when doubling his tally at Thirsk (1m, soft) in September. Respectable sixth of 12 to Wanees (Montassib second, Boardman fourth) on final start. Still fairly low-mileage for stable which hit the ground running last spring.
***
Revich
Trainer: Richard Spencer Jockey: Hollie Doyle Age: 7 Weight: 8st 12lbs Draw: 5
Largely consistent sort who was a good third in Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood last July and also placed at the Ayr Western meeting in September. Sixth is the best he’s managed in 2 previous attempts in this race, though.
**
Helm Rock
Trainer: Daniel & Claire Kubler Jockey: Ben Curtis Age: 5 Weight: 8st 12lbs Draw: 2
Won at Carlisle and Wolverhampton in August before notching his third win of the campaign at 14-runner handicap at Haydock (1m, good) in September. However, well held in big-field handicap at York final start and vulnerable in this company on his return to action.
**
Majestic
Trainer: Jack Channon Jockey: George Bass Age: 5 Weight: 8st 12lbs Draw: 16
Took very well to the demands of a big-field handicap when landing the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (9f) on his final 4-y-o start. More on his plate off 7 lb higher here but his profile is one of steady progression.
***
Yanifer
Trainer: Harriet Bethell Jockey: Cam Hardie Age: 5 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 9
Real success story for this yard, gaining fourth success of 2022 at Catterick (7f, heavy) in October. Not seen to best effect in Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton on reappearance and should be sharper with that run behind him.
***
READ MORE
- Mick Fitzgerald’s got 14/1 and 12/1 picks for Saturday’s racing
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- Rory Delargy’s Doncaster and Kempton best bets
- Frank Hickey’s fine fancies for ITV Racing on Saturday
- Jason Weaver’s wily wagers for Saturday at Doncaster and Kempton
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