Spotlight On Saturday: Haggas Winner 'From The Gods'

William Haggas admitted it was a 'nice surprise' after seeing Godwinson come from the clouds to give him a record-breaking fifth Lincoln win at Doncaster.

Godwinson appeared to have far too much to do with a furlong or so to run, but he stormed home to pip Oliver Show in a photo-finish, thus making Yorkshire-born Haggas the most successful trainer in the history of a Town Moor race that dates back to 1853.

Rider Cieren Fallon was emulating his father, Kieren, who won the Lincoln 32 years earlier on High Premium.

"That was a nice surprise," Haggas said. "He got a great run through but Cieren gave him a very confident ride. Fair play, that's what he wanted to do and I thought that was a good idea.

"We thought the ground had dried up a bit too much for him but clearly not. I didn't think he was well handicapped – but he wasn't that well treated, he only won by a nose and a neck!"

Haggas, who won with High Low (1992), Very Wise (2007), Penitent (2010), Addeybb (2018) and now Godwinson, surpassed the four sent out by Jack Robinson between 1896 and 1910.

More Lincoln Analysis

Godwinson won the Lincoln in dramatic fashion with a surging late run. The 22-runner field converged up the middle of the Doncaster track and were led mostly by Thunder Run for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee, but his effort faded from the furlong marker along with Orne and Lattam.

Billy Loughnane appeared to have timed his challenge to perfection on Oliver Show, showing patience from the 2f pole before getting to the lead, but he had not reckoned on Godwinson and Cieren Fallon flying home on the outside to get their nose down on the line.

The Irish Lincolnshire winner Orandi was behind in third, a neck away, Tony Martin's charge just missing out on an historic double.

What next for Godwinson?

After winning his fifth Lincoln, Haggas is looking forward to a good season ahead, though no immediate plans are in place for Godwinson.

"That's our fifth time, so that's great," Haggas said. "It's nice to win a race like that and we always try and find one. We don't always succeed but this year we got lucky. I hope that bodes well for the new season, it's a nice way to start."

Dancing Gemini won the Doncaster Mile and his trainer, Roger Teal, is targeting the Lockinge at Newbury.

After winning at Doncaster last season, Charyn landed Sandown's bet365 Mile before finishing second in the Lockinge and winning three times at the highest level.

"The winner of this race last year never won at three and we said we'll follow in his footsteps. We thought we'd start at a mile. He's bred for further but has a blistering turn of foot," Teal remarked.

"We've got some talking to do because there's the Group 2 at Sandown, but he could just go straight to Newbury."