Auxerre The Biggest Gamble Of The Winter

Charlie Appleby will be hoping the long-time ante post favourite Auxerre can give him his second success in the Lincoln handicap this Saturday, which takes place in Doncaster.

He won it back in 2016 with Secret Brief at a lovely price of 12/1 with William Buick onboard. James Doyle takes the ride on Auxerre over this mile trip and all eyes will be on the Iffraaj gelding as the 7/2 shot has been heavily backed all winter, from his original price of 10/1.

The Newmarket based trainer will be saddling up the shortest price favourite for the Lincoln since Penitent back in 2010, who was successful for the four-time winning Lincoln trainer William Haggas and retired jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Co Dublin based, and only Irish represented trainer in the race, Adrian ‘Ado’ McGuinness will be lining up Saltonstall to try and land the big prize and he is currently the third favourite at 8/1 with us

The Lincoln is the first leg of the ‘Spring Double’ with the Grand National the second leg. With Auxerre and Tiger Roll both 7/2 ante post favourites in these two markets now, it will be a disaster for the bookmakers if the double was to land at combined odds just short of 20/1.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Drafted is a market mover in the Dubai Golden Shaheen Group 1 in Meydan for trainer Doug Watson, after being backed from 9/1 into 7/2. Imperial Hunt and X Y Jet share favouritism at 3/1.

*Prices correct at time of publication