The Lincoln Handicap is the traditional, big-race curtain-raiser for the flat turf season in Britain and as always it looks like a belter of a renewal.

There is always discussion about the effects of the draw here, but it’s pretty fair across the track at Doncaster and in this case, the majority of the better horses are drawn together over on the far side.

Not to show off, but we’ve managed to select the last three Lincoln winners in a row with Addeybb, Auxerre and Haqeeqy all doing the job, so we’re hoping we’ve got this one right too!

Main Contenders

Darkness 

A recent winner of this race was a four-year-old taken from a supposed “top yard”, and it may well be that Darkness can follow suit.

Formerly trained in France by Jean-Claude Rouget, Darkness is now with David O’Meara who is excellent with such types and it may well be he appreciate these conditions much more.

He’s drawn high, which may or may not be a disadvantage, and he’s likely better than a 95 horse.

Irish Admiral

Plenty was expected of Irish Admiral when he arrived at William Haggas’ yard from Ireland last year. He did win and ran well at York, but was largely disappointing last season. That is until he went to Redcar.

Winning easily in a good handicap, Irish Admiral beat horses whose form before and/or after makes it look as though the race has been underestimated ratings-wise.

He is a live player here at a big price and is drawn way on the far side, near the better horses.

Modern News

Charlie Appleby knows what type is needed to win the Lincoln and he has found another perfect one in Modern News.

An improver last season, he has the ideal profile and based on the expected natural progression from then to now, he’d have a great chance anyway. What is even more interesting is his recent Dubai form, and the jockey booking.

Six weeks ago, Modern News chased home Storm Damage in a Listed race at Meydan. He got too far back too early there and the pace wasn’t to his liking, but still he got to within 3½ lengths of a horse who won again and is now rated 115.

Harry Davies has been booked and he is also good value for a number of the 7lbs he claims which helps to make Modern News appear like a very well handicapped horse stepping up to his undoubtedly preferred one-mile trip.

Mujtaba

The ante-post favourite and one who just keeps getting shorter in the market at the time of writing.

William Haggas has a grip on this market it seems, but Mujtaba while undoubtedly talented is just too short given that there are some questions to answer.

He is unbeaten in three, but will the hustle and bustle of this race suit? He has also done his best work on rain-softened ground which gives us doubts, while the form of his latest win isn’t that impressive.

Mujtaba beat horses at Redcar that were either already going backwards or have not performed well since, casting a little doubt on the quality of the race. Adam Farragher is another good claimer though and has been booked to ride.

Rogue Bear 

Tom Clover’s Rogue Bear is a live outsider we feel. A winner at Nottingham last season on soft ground, he went back to the same track and dead-heated on better going with that form giving him a fair chance if the high numbers go well.

Saleymm 

The Crisfords train Saleymm and he is the classic Lincoln type in theory. A four-year-old, he’s lightly raced and was improving no end before finishing for the year in November by winning two races and then taking in a breathing operation.

The worry is that he was comfortably beaten twice on turf before his all-weather successes at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton and it may just be that he prefers the synthetic tracks.

Summary

A great race in prospect then, with our six plus a number of others all in with some sort of a chance.

Mujtaba may yet go on to prove why he has been so short in the market in the build-up to this race, while his stable companion Irish Admiral undoubtedly has a race like this in him and can make a big splash this year.

The one with most in his favour however is MODERN NEWS and he is backed to score another Lincoln for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.