Lincoln Handicap 2022 Tips: Haggas to claim Doncaster glory with big priced runner
One of the early season Flat features will take place at Doncaster racecourse on Saturday afternoon, as a huge field line up for the Lincoln Handicap, and our man Steve Chambers picks out his best bet for the race, which looks a devilishly difficult punting puzzle to work out...
William Haggas is the most successful trainer in recent times when it comes to saddling the winner of the Lincoln, as he has lifted the trophy on four separate occasions, and he will unleash a three-pronged attack on Saturday's running of the one-mile contest, and his trio will be spearheaded by the market leader Mujtaba, who has won his open three races.
Last seen bounding to an impressive victory at Ripon off a mark of 90, the four-year-old son of Dubawi will look to defy an 8lb rise in Saturday's event, but with Adam Farragher taking a valuable 5lbs off his back then he looks attractively handicapped to go close. He dealt with soft conditions in that Ripon win, and while the ground is quickening with this warm spell there could still be a little give in it, so he should have no problems acting on the surface, and he looks the one to beat.
Third in the Cambridgeshire on his last start, Ametist will be the second shot fired by the Haggas gun, and he is an eye-catching runner off a 2lb higher mark, but it's the third Haggas runner IRISH ADMIRAL that makes most appeal at around the 25/1 mark. The five-year-old could only finish 15th in the Cambridgeshire, but he tired in the closing stages of that event, so the drop back from 1m 1f to one mile on Saturday will suit. He also found himself on the wrong side in that contest, and having been in with a shout heading into the final furlong he weakened considerably to finish in mid-division. He had previously beaten Hortzadar impressively at Ripon over one mile, and that pair will lock horns again, and the Haggas raider can frank the form and duly go close in this, if he can sparkle on his comeback run.
Charlie Appleby has trained two of the last five winners of this contest and the Godolphin trainer will saddle a leading player in the shape of Modern News, who ended last season with some eye-catching wins at Doncaster and Lingfield. Sent over to Meydan for his next run, he could only finish third in a Listed event, but that should have blown the cobwebs away and he has to be considered a notable contender on a return to Town Moor.
Simon & Ed Crisford will saddle the hat-trick-seeking Saleymm, who ended last season with two fine wins at Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton on the all-weather. Now switching to the turf, the son of Dubawi will be 10lbs higher than his mark of 87 he won at Wolverhampton off, so he will face a much sterner test here, and while he's undoubtedly improving, he could find it hard to get the better of some battle-hardened rivals here.
Notre Belle Bere is the form horse this campaign lining up, as the Andrew Balding-trained star has recorded two wins over the last few weeks, but a 6lb penalty here will give him his toughest test to date. But, with some double-figured odds available he could be a solid each-way proposition.
Of the others, John Quinn's Safe Voyage is a former Group winner, who will have the burden of top weight here, but if he is at his best then he can prove to be a class above his rivals, while the likes of Darkness, Brunch and Rogue Bear add more depth to a fascinating renewal.
