Lincoln
Heritage Handicap
Doncaster 15:00
 £150,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
1m, Class 2   
Saturday 23rd March 2024

Free Racing Tips

David Menuisier is optimistically hoping that Migration, the veteran gelding, can recapture his former brilliance as he aims for back-to-back wins in the Lincoln at Doncaster this Saturday. Last year, Migration surged past the well-fancied duo Awaal and Baradar, securing victory at 18-1. However, his subsequent performances were less impressive, trailing behind in three tough contests.

Migration faced tougher competition, stepping up to Group Three level in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown and carrying over 10st in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot. His season concluded with a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud. The handicapper has given him a chance by reducing his mark to just 4lb above last year’s Lincoln win. Menuisier remains hopeful that the fire still burns brightly in this eight-year-old campaigner.

“Obviously, it’s a hard task but he is well, we know he likes the course and he likes to run fresh and he always runs well at this time of the year, so fingers crossed that the stars can align again,” said the trainer.

“He kind of lost his form late on last season, so it’s hard to predict what’s happening with those older horses.

“He stayed in the yard all winter, I didn’t give him a holiday this time around because he had a long break last summer, so we tried to keep him up to his work a bit more.

“We’ll see if it makes a difference. The ground will probably be very similar and maybe we just need a bit of luck.”

Trainers Quotes

Awaal, the ante-post favorite, aims to improve upon last year’s performance with 56 entries standing their ground for the one-mile contest. Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, this five-year-old returns to the same mark after securing a place in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot and Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup. However, Awaal’s form dipped in the latter part of the season.

Another contender to watch is Liberty Lane, who triumphed over the course and distance in September. After being gelded during the winter, Liberty Lane remains prominent in the betting for trainer Karl Burke.

Meanwhile, the father-son duo of John and Thady Gosden will strive for success once again, aiming to replicate their previous victory within the last four years. Additionally, Jack Channon seeks to follow in his father Mick’s footsteps, building on the achievements of 2022 hero Johan.

“Awaal had to settle for second place behind Migration 12 months ago but Simon and Ed Crisford’s runner is being well backed to go one place better this time in the opening major handicap of the Flat season,” said Coral’s John Hill.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield added: “Last year’s runner-up Awaal, who has been our best-backed horse ante post, remains in the reckoning at the five-day stage and sits proudly at the front of the market as favourite for the Flat turf season’s traditional pipe-opener.”

Free Racing Tips

Network Lincoln (Heritage Handicap)
56 remaining entries
Going: Heavy, Soft in places

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 12516- Alpha Crucis 4 8-0 Gary Moore
2 58137- Arkendale 4 8-1 Edward Bethell
3 35374- Arthur's Realm 6 7-12 Ed Dunlop
4 33030- Awaal 5 9-4 Simon & Ed Crisford
5 9932-0 Bass Player 5 8-0 Kevin Frost
6 312-63 Bet Me 4 8-5 George Boughey
7 5-2720 Beylerbeyi 4 6-4 Ian Williams
8 11628- Blues Emperor 5 8-13 J P Murtagh
9 19-065 Charencey 4 7-2 Ian Williams
10 4/112- Chazzesmee 6 8-8 J A Stack
11 4-5941 Chuzzlewit 4 8-8 5ex Kevin Ryan
12 14304- Clear Angel 6 7-9 Susan Corbett
13 8-4985 Darwell Lion 6 8-1 Ruth Carr
14 90801- Dirtyoldtown 5 7-12 Dylan Cunha
15 15-049 Dragon Icon 4 8-9 Roger Varian
16 13606- Dutch Decoy 7 8-9 Charlie Johnston
17 19067- Expressionless 4 7-6 Dylan Cunha
18 51033- Farhh To Shy 6 8-8 George Margarson
19 2-3622 Greatgadian 6 8-8 Roger Varian
20 7670-6 Harswell Duke 6 7-5 Roger Fell & Sean Murray
21 1212-2 He's A Gentleman 5 7-8 Hugo Palmer
22 263-4 Helter Skelter 4 7-4 Rebecca Menzies
23 5-1341 Hieronymus 8 8-7 5ex George Baker
24 3-5488 Hortzadar 9 7-7 David O'Meara
25 80/15- Johan 7 9-8 Jack Channon
26 1000-9 Just An Hour 4 8-0 Rod Millman
27 /7050- Kalikapour 4 7-9 Roger Fell & Sean Murray
28 /31-32 Lahab 4 7-7 Grant Tuer
29 10357- Lattam 5 8-11 Julie Camacho
30 05389- Liamarty Dreams 5 8-0 K R Burke
31 70410- Liberty Lane 4 9-4 K R Burke
32 1118-0 Light Speed 4 8-1 Andrew Balding
33 /900-2 Lion Tower 7 8-0 Grant Tuer
34 86451- Look Back Smiling 4 7-13 Gemma Tutty
35 32413- Magic Memories 4 7-10 Gary Moore
36 24044- Majestic 6 8-7 Jack Channon
37 58-732 Maysong 7 7-7 Alice Haynes
38 /1509- Migration 8 9-13 David Menuisier
39 16475- Mostabshir 4 9-5 John & Thady Gosden
40 24126- Mr Professor 5 8-8 Dominic Ffrench Davis
41 02181- Navagio 5 8-12 James Horton Richard Kingscote
42 32540- One Night Thunder 4 8-4 Gemma Tutty
43 245-41 Parlando 5 8-7 5ex Ian Williams
44 35330- Raadobarg 6 9-7 George Boughey
45 40310- Revich 8 9-0 Richard Spencer
46 85475- Siam Fox 6 7-10 Kevin Frost
47 -48807 Skilled Warrior 6 7-0 Grant Tuer
48 88129- Spirit Genie 4 8-2 Jennie Candlish
49 01041- The Gatekeeper 5 9-2 Charlie Johnston
50 46271- Thunder Ball 4 9-3 Paul & Oliver Cole
51 0311-3 Thunder Roar 5 7-10 Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood
52 34539- Titian 6 7-13 Julie Camacho
53 -93414 Tonal 4 6-4 5ex Ian Williams
54 21-367 Trip To Rome 4 7-13 Ian Williams
55 14135- Vetiver 4 9-0 Andrew Balding
56 07-524 Wildfell 4 7-12 Roger Fell & Sean Murray

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