Mange Has It All For Lincoln Handicap

The Flat season ignites this weekend when Doncaster hosts the traditional curtain raiser that is the Lincoln Handicap – or as others may know it, the first leg of the “Spring Double”.

Another For Haggas?
Currently heading the betting is William Haggas’ Mange All, on 6/1, who has been backed for the race since finishing a creditable fourth in the Silver Cambridgeshire last September (1m1f, good).

Earlier that season, this 4yo won a valuable Ascot handicap over the straight mile (good), which will put him in good stead for Saturday’s assignment, and the fact Haggas won this twice in the last 10 years, suggests he may have another one ready.

Mange All is also at the right end of the handicap off an official rating of 97 based on recent history…

Trends Summary
Of the last 10 Lincoln winners…

10 were 4-6yo’s – others were 0-42
10 were officially rated 104 or lower
10 were drawn stall 16 or lower
10 ran in a Class 2/Class 3 race last time
10 ran in a handicap last time – others were 0-52
9 carried 9st4lb to 8st9lb
9 won 1-3 handicaps (8%) – others were 1-105 (1%)
8 had been rested for 151-240 days (15%) – others were 2-126 (1%)
7 won during their last three runs (9%) – others were 3-135 (2%)
W Haggas and J Quinn won it twice
Those arriving from Wolverhampton (0-48), Doncaster (0-19) and Kempton (0-14) were 0-81 collectively.

Newmarket To Deliver?
Also at the right end of the weights is John Gosden’s, GM Hopkins (7/1), another 4yo who finished around 3l in front of Mange All when landing the aforementioned Silver Cambridgeshire. He lost his next two outings having been hiked up 9lb for that Newmarket win, though, and will needed to have improved during the winter if landing this competitive handicap.

Another of the Newmarket big boys, Ed Dunlop, has a live chance with Zarwaan (10/1), who was fifth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm), prior to a 3l fourth in Listed company when last seen in July. Conditions shouldn’t be a problem for this gelding, but not many Lincoln winners arrive having raced in Pattern company last time.

Sixth in this race last year was Richard Fahey’s, Gabrial’s Kaka (14/1), who went one better a few weeks later in landing Newbury’s Spring Cup. He obviously comes to hand early and should be thereabouts at a decent price.

Angel Loves Big Fields
Also well priced is the dual Cambridgeshire winner, Bronze Angel (16/1), who added one of the most valuable handicaps staged in Britain at Ascot last October (1m, heavy). This 6yo has a lot to from top weight, but will love Saturday’s cavalry charge.

Also a shade high in the ratings on 105 is David O’Meara’s 5yo, Mondialiste (16/1), who makes his debut for the yard having been third in a French Group 1 as a 3yo. He has a touch of class, but may need this having not been seen since May.

One who will be fit, though, is Hillbilly Boy (20/1), who was third at Lingfield earlier this month (1m) and was a 7f handicap winner at this meeting a year ago. This 5yo front-runner is improving and could have them in trouble if allowed to lead.

Recommended Bets
The Lincoln is usually looked at as a race for big priced winners, but with three Newmarket-trained winning favourites since 2005, William Haggas’ Mange All, has a lot going for him, and looks to have been laid out for the race.