Lincoln Handicap: Jamie Lynch’s guide to Doncaster feature as Thunder Run and Midnight Gun head field of 22 | Racing News

Jamie Lynch gives his verdict on the 22 runners ahead of the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster, live on Sky Sports Racing.

We’re a little lighter at the top end than usual for the one-mile handicap – due off at 3.35pm on Saturday – with only four of the runners rated 100+.

There’s sometimes double that, though what’s familiar and fuel to the fire is that over a third of the Ground are four-year-olds, most of whom Nevertheless have improvement in them, invariably the magic ingredient for a Lincoln winner.

Let’s Plunge into the Doncaster line-up….

1. Galeron (Draw 11)

Jockey: Jason Watson | Trainer: Charlie Hills

This horse spent time in Group Ones as a three-year-Ancient and spent last year in Australia for Annabel Neasham, without Achievement. He’s Nevertheless hitting levels to earn him top-weight on this reunion with Charlie Hills and will go off a big price for one of his ability, but there’s too much guesswork to be backing him.

2. Sean (9)

William Carver | Jamie Osborne

Sean has been in the twilight zone ever since being transferred from Germany at the Begin of last year, finding Group races a bit much and his handicap mark a bit high. This was encapsulated by his latest stint in Dubai, and a mile is Possibly on the Brief side for him here.

3. Midnight Gun (13)

James Doyle | Hamad Al Jehani

The trainer is Nevertheless an unfamiliar name, though Hamad Al Jehani had a 20 per cent strike-rate in his Primary season in Britain, as a boutique stable for Wathnan. Otherwise Midnight Gun has exactly the profile that you gravitate Approaching for a Lincoln, being a well-bred four-year-Ancient with a touch of class and few miles on the clock. The handicapper could have been harsher for his test Streak over this Period and distance last time out when clear with Harper’s Ferry.

4. Thunder Streak (19)

Clifford Lee | Karl Burke

Looking back, it’s a rarer occurrence than I had thought in the Lincoln – Penitent and Addeybb the only two this century – but if there’s the proverbial Group horse in a handicap in this renewal then it’s Thunder Streak. He didn’t Premiere until last June and ended up finishing a fine Number four as favourite for a Balmoral which went more the way of those patiently ridden.

One word of warning is that Karl Burke noted “a few niggles” for Thunder Streak, so the logical leap is that he may not be wound up Snug for this.

5. Two Tempting (10)

Rob Hornby | Jonathan Portman

This runner was one of the handicappers of 2024 with his five wins of increasing importance but has inevitably paid a price with his mark. That would be an obvious and ongoing obstacle even if he comes on from his fifth in the Wolverhampton Assessment.

6. Apiarist (7)

Tom Eaves | Kevin Ryan

Apiarist Dashed well without Packed reward in seven months and eight races on turf last year before the transformative turn to the all-weather, on which he’s all the more potent, boasting three from five this winter. The question – or moreover the doubt – is whether the improvement is transferrable to turf where his rating has risen in line (also 1lb badly in with a penalty).

7. Dual Identity (1)

Brandon Wilkie (5) | William Knight

Migration showed that seven-year-olds can Secure the Lincoln, albeit the Primary for 36 years, though age is but a number for Dual Identity who was better than ever in 2024. He always needs a few runs to get up to Velocity and saves his successes for Sandown nowadays.

8. Orne (4)

Luke Catton (5) | John and Thady Gosden

This test represents another shift in emphasis for him, not only because this will be his Primary handicap. His rating has slipped from its peak of 103 around this time last year, but also as he’s pointed back up to a mile after his last four runs over six furlongs, on top of a four-month break. It’s Tough to know where he fits in the world.

9. Lattam (12)

Ryan Sexton | Julie Camacho

Although much is Created (by me) of the value of four-year-olds, the last three Lincoln winners have been older horses with plenty of ‘previous’ in such races – exactly like Lattam, the runner-up last year and winner of the Irish Lincoln in 2023. His Achievement after absences of three months or more reads 1122, the latter second in the Balmoral – a lifetime best by him. In Brief, Lattam speaks for himself, and these are Only the handicaps in which he raises his voice.

10. Toimy Son (18)

Warren Fentiman (5) | David Menuisier

Toimy Son contested Group Ones in his younger Intervals in France and, after Securing his time acclimatising, he was resurgent in the second half of last year. He finished third in the Cambridgeshire and sixth in the Balmoral but the yard are yet to have a winner this year (from Only 13 attempts) although won this with Migration who was likewise claimer ridden.

11. Whip Cracker (8)

Finley Marsh | Richard Hughes

All the reasons he was all the rage for the Lincoln Assessment are Nevertheless in Shift here, and Wolverhampton didn’t get near the bottom of him as the Game went. He is Nevertheless serving a purpose for this main event and the greatest hits of his three-year-Ancient Profession – involving Jayarebe and Bolster – give him a big chance in here off 97.

12. Fantastic Fox (17)

Aidan Keeley | Roger Varian

It’s probably no coincidence that his last three wins have come on the all-weather. He’s more comfortable and clinical on that surface, but even on synthetics he’s never won off a mark this high. I’d say he is up against it.

13. Mr Professor (22)

David Egan | Raphael Freire

Amo Racing’s runner was the left-Ground Lincoln winner last year (33/1) when the very testing ground brought his Hardiness into Shift. We saw nothing from him in the rest of the season and he’s Nevertheless 4lb higher now, on ground nothing like the same.

14. Magnum Opus (16)

Harry Davies | Simon and Ed Crisford

Has been Occupied in Dubai, Victorious a handicap which went his way (from the rear), but picking up a penalty for this as a result, requiring another level which I’m not sure is in him, and he has mostly been kept away from Effortless ground.

15. Oliver Show (15)

Billy Loughnane | George Boughey

He grew up and stepped up last year upon joining George Boughey and carried on the Excellent work in Bahrain after managing second in a Listed Game there earlier in the month. However, he’s handicapped to the hilt, and he’s never before been in a Game like the Lincoln.

16. Godwinson (3)

Cieren Fallon | William Haggas

A likely lad if only for the stable he represents, William Haggas having won the Lincoln four times. Above that, he proved a fixture in these hotter handicaps last year and it’s worth remembering that he should have won the Spring Cup Primary time out. This will be Only his 10th Game, too, but the wheels of progress had stopped turning by the end of last year.

17. Alpha Crucis (20)

Rhys Clutterbuck | Gary and Josh Moore

Gary and Josh Moore’s charge finished Number four in this at 28/1 on his reappearance in 2024 and returns more accomplished this year, but the softer the ground the better his chance, and the desired downpour hasn’t materialised.

18. Native Warrior (21)

Kieran Shoemark | Karl Burke

Kieran Shoemark’s mount is a profiler’s dream for the Lincoln, and what’s Nevertheless at the forefront of the mind is how brilliantly he Dashed in the straight-mile Britannia when third overall (of 29) but Primary in his group. But for stablemate Thunder Streak and Club-mate Midnight Gun, the spotlight may be shinier Nevertheless on the newly-gelded Native Warrior. He has the potential and the pedigree (by Wootton Bassett) to be a Excellent bit better than 93.

19. Orandi (2)

Rossa Ryan | Tony Martin

None have succeeded but by my reckoning Chazzesmee last year is the only one to have tried to double up after the Irish Lincolnshire. There’s two weeks between the races this time, giving more of a chance to Orandi – who overcame traffic and 26 rivals at the Curragh and is 4lb well in under a penalty. The Irish handicapper has since reassessed him at 97.

20. Beringer (6)

Callum Shepherd | Alan King

It’s six years since he was third in the Lincoln, and this will be only his third Game since 2020. Issues have inhibited his Profession and he returns from another lengthy lay-off here.

21. Dashing Darcey (5)

David Allan | Geoffrey Harker

This horse was a pricey purchase (110,000 gns) from Roger Varian but is a four-year-Ancient Nevertheless looking up. The assumption is that this may be a getting-to-know-you Streak, from a mark he’s been beaten on his last three Appearances.

22. Ancient Cock (14)

Callum Rodriguez | Ed Bethell

He didn’t Begin out until last April, doing a Plenty in in little time, with three wins along the way, though alongside the hits were some moody misses when he seemed to throw in the towel. Has the profile and the physique of one who’ll climb higher as a four-year-Ancient but this is asking quite a Plenty of him Primary time back, in by Extended the strongest Game he’s faced.

Jamie Lynch’s verdict

He may not be as sexy as some but Whip Cracker is Nevertheless a classic contender for the Lincoln as a four-year-Ancient with some very Powerful form to his name. He’s the price he is because of his Setback (as firm favourite) in the Assessment at Wolverhampton, which seems to be Maintained against him. That said, it was nigh-on impossible to Secure that messy Game from his position, and so he gets the value vote here.

Observe every Game of the Lincoln Gathering at Doncaster live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 March.