Lincoln Handicap Preview

The new flat turf season got off to a false start last week with the flat’s traditional curtain raiser, The Lincoln Handicap, having to be re-arranged after Saturday’s card was wiped out by snow. All of the leading fancies have stood their ground.

Last year’s winner Brae Hill will be attempting to become the first horse to win the race in successive seasons since 1958. The seven-year-old is not a horse that you can follow with any confidence but he has run well in this race for the last two years and won a Bunbury Cup in between.

Another proven big race winner in the field is Prince of Johanne who claimed the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last season and the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in 2011. He appeared to be in the handicapper’s grip towards the end of the season but runs well fresh.

Trainer John Gosden has a fine record in this race and has two live prospects in Lahaag and Eshtibaak. Paul Hanagan has chosen to ride the latter who looked unlucky in handicaps at Kempton and Ascot last season. Lahaag is the ante-post favourite and is closely handicapped with Chapter Seven on their York meeting in October. On that occasion, Lahaag came out second best after a bumping match and the form is difficult to weigh up.

Captain Bertie caught the eye at this meeting last year when he finished like a train to be fourth in the Spring Mile. He confirmed the promise of that race by winning the Newbury Spring Cup and was campaigned in the top handicaps for the rest of the campaign. He has attracted plenty of support in the market suggesting he has been laid out for this race.

Alan Bailey’s Strictly Silver will be a popular choice after winning the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton. The fitness of most of these has to be taken on trust but there is no doubt that the grey is fit to run for his life. The bottom weight Gladys’ Gal has not run since July 2011 but she is in the capable hands of Roger Varian and he would not be running her here if he did not think she had a chance.

The draw is always something of a lottery in this event and the fancied runners are split across the course. Lahaag will come out of stall 6 and may get a lead from Brae Hill whilst Captain Bertie, Eshtibaak and Chapter Seven are all drawn high. Bet365 make Captain Bertie their 5-1 favourite with Gladys’ Gal 10-1, Eshtibaak (9-1) and Lahaag (7-1).