UK Flat racing is back!

On Saturday with the Lincoln..

By Tom Peacock

The Lincoln Handicap:

One of the great old handicaps, with several centuries’ worth of history, the 32Red Lincoln continues to mark the start of the British Turf season. It has been staged at Doncaster since 1965 since the closure of Lincoln racecourse, where the fine grandstands remain until this day.

With £100,000 of prize-money and another field of potential improvers, it is reassuring that the race retains its prominence in the calendar and will not clash with the All-weather Championships or Meydan’s Dubai World Cup meeting next week.

Some 73 horses were left in at Monday’s confirmation stage, with only the top 22 facing the starter over the straight mile.

Lincoln Handicap recent trends:

The Lincoln Handicap has not been a good race for favourites (although Oh This Is Us was only beaten a whisker by Bravery last year). The last market leader to oblige was Penitent in 2010, and all the winners since have been at least 12-1.




Bravery just pipped Oh This Is Us 12 months ago but last year's runner-up will not run on Saturday. (PA)

With a big field down the straight course, the draw is vital. In recent times, those with particularly low or high stalls position have tended to fight out the first four places:

2017: (20-2-21-4)

2016: (22-2- 18-21)

2015: (15-6-19-12)

2014: (3-22-20-18)

2013: (3-1-19-10)

Ante-post favourite Lord Glitters is currently on joint-top weight of 9st 10lb but recent winners have come from a narrow range. Seven of the last eight have carried between 9st and 9st 4lb.

READ MORE www.racinguk.com/news/lincoln-trophy-201...ur-against-the-field

And the Irish turf flat season also starts this weekend at Naas on Sunday.

Steckenpferd wrote: And the Irish turf flat season also starts this weekend at Naas on Sunday.

Is it a week late this year?

I don't think so, Bob, but the UK turf season is starting a week earlier than last year because of Easter.

Steckenpferd wrote: I don't think so, Bob, but the UK turf season is starting a week earlier than last year because of Easter.

Same day then! The Irish usually start the week before

Yes, the Irish season usually starts a week before Doncaster, and that's what happened last year. The UK turf season generally starts on the last Saturday in March unless, like this year, that happens to be Easter Saturday and then it gets shunted forward by a week.

Well after Cheltenham festival a hard act to follow but what can we expect as highlights?

Lincon : Fire Brigade

Grand National ( yes the longest race during the flat season ); Tiger Roll

2000 gns, derby and St Leger ; Saxon Warrior

1000 gns, Oaks : Clemmie and September

Ascot should be magic

Queen Anne ; Winx ??

King Stand ; Lady Aurelia

Prince of Wales ; Crackman vs Enable

Gold Cup ; Order of St George

Diamond Jubilee ; Harry Angel

King George ; Crackman and Enable

Juddmonte; Enable vs Winx

Arc ; Enable vs Crackman


Various mouth watering clashes and probably Enable and Crackman will be kept apart but we in for a Cracking
Year !!!

Good punting and watch Crackman (ARC)

Frosty this morning at my bit, the flat boys returning from Dubai won’t know what’s hit them

Mr Lupton to be the first winner of the flat season.

Fran Berry to take out the Lincoln...

Dave Scott wrote: Well after Cheltenham festival a hard act to follow but what can we expect as highlights?

Lincon : Fire Brigade

Grand National ( yes the longest race during the flat season ); Tiger Roll

2000 gns, derby and St Leger ; Saxon Warrior

1000 gns, Oaks : Clemmie and September

Ascot should be magic

Queen Anne ; Winx ??

King Stand ; Lady Aurelia

Prince of Wales ; Crackman vs Enable

Gold Cup ; Order of St George

Diamond Jubilee ; Harry Angel

King George ; Crackman and Enable

Juddmonte; Enable vs Winx

Arc ; Enable vs Crackman


Various mouth watering clashes and probably Enable and Crackman will be kept apart but we in for a Cracking
Year !!!

Good punting and watch Crackman (ARC)

finally done with the bulk of the hedgehoppers.

Really enjoyed Aidan O'Brien's stable tour and just gave decent hints at his classic charges. Master of Ballydoyle will once again show us that he is an incredible trainer after his record group 1 season haul last year.
Gosden has the most exciting middle distance horses.
Wesley Ward will raid Ascot with his string of professional juveniles.
Godolphin will try and fight too.