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Lincoln Fancies Miss Big-Race Cut

Thu 20 Mar, 01:09 PM


Ante-post favourite Zaahid and the well-fancied Lang Shining have both missed the cut for Saturday's William Hill Lincoln after the top 22 horses all stood their ground.

In a race where the draw has historically played a key part, this year's renewal offers more questions than ever as it will be the first running of the race since the track's redevelopment.

Ger Lyons' gambled-on Little White Lie was the first runner drawn out of the hat by William Hill's David Hood and was allocated stall number six by Kate Hills of Arena Leisure.

In the past, low numbers were favoured when the ground was on the soft side, and clerk of the course David Williams is expecting some cut in the ground.

"The track is very even from one side to the other and at the Leger meeting jockeys weren't frightened to come down the middle," said Williams.

"The course itself hasn't changed but the new drainage system we installed means the ground is far more consistent now than it was in the past.

"It is good to soft at the moment. We are forecast 12 millimetres today, with a further four tomorrow and another three on Saturday.

"I'd anticipate the ground will be good to soft on the straight but maybe soft, heavy in places on the round course.

"We could get anything up to 17mm but it does drain very well."

Others who have been drawn low include 2006 winner Blythe Knight who is in stall three for John Quinn and will carry top-weight after his unplaced effort in last week's Champion Hurdle.

John Gosden's Escape Route (4) and Julie Camacho's Rio Riva (5) along with Gay Kelleway's Fajr (7) also have single-figure draws.

Donald McCain's Temple Place (8) took the final place in the 22-runner line-up and could provide the trainer with the first leg of an historic double as he will saddle Grand National favourite Cloudy Lane two weeks later.

Among those drawn high include last year's fourth Raptor (19), last year's Spring Mile winner European Dream (20) and the winner 12 months ago, Very Wise (17).

Barry Hills' Zaahid will instead run in the William Hill Spring Mile but Lang Shining has not been declared for the consolation race.

Mark Tompkins has two representatives in Smokey Oakey (12) and 2004 winner Babodana (16), who has not won another race since his Lincoln success.

"It's amazing that he has never won another race since then. He's had a few near-misses and has paid his way every year since but he's just been unfortunate that he hasn't got his head in front again," said Tompkins.

"The handicapper doesn't forget them, especially when he has been placed in a few Group Twos and Threes.

"He did win a race at Newmarket but the stewards took it away from him and I'll never forgive them for that!

"The year he won we could pick our own (draw) and he was last out of the hat and we were drawn right against the stands side rail.

"Whatever happens I think they will come down the middle and we will know our fate when we see the Spring Mile run, so we'll have a good look at that and see what the draw does.

"Smokey Oakey will love the ground, the more rain the better for him and I think we'll get it but you never know.

"He sluiced in at Ayr last year on heavy ground and he looks a picture so we'll hope for the best," he told At The Races.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for sponsors William Hill, said: "We're all a little in the dark as to whether a bias will be found on Saturday, and only made one change to the betting on the back of the draw.

"The track at Doncaster has traditionally favoured low-drawn runners in soft conditions, but this stat may not hold-up with the changes made to the track.

"Those to the forefront of our betting hold what we feel are the strongest credentials, in being lightly-raced, young horses, so I guess it'll be up to the punters to let us know of any mistakes we've made!"

William Hill Lincoln: sponsors bet: 13-2 Prince Forever, 9-1 Little White Lie, Yeaman's Hall, Smokey Oakey, 10-1 Escape Route, 12-1 Rio Riva, Vitznau, Very Wise, 14-1 European Dream, 16-1 Raptor, 20-1 bar.

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