Bolodenka To Lead Lincoln Charge

With Doncaster still undergoing a makeover, the William Hill Lincoln switches to Newcastle this year.

The mile event is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Flat season and after being run at Redcar 12 months ago, Gosforth Park will be the venue for a race which is always hard to unravel.

There is always a massive field for this richly-endowed contest and Bolodenka looks a likely type to pocket the prize money this year.

Fresh from a trip to Dubai, Richard Fahey's charge will be more than ready for this, whereas a couple of the others, including ante-post favourite Rio Riva, will be having their first start of the season.

Bolodenka is sure to have a good edge on him after a couple of creditable runs at Nad Al Sheba.

Ultimately disappointing when failing to feature at all in last year's Cambridgeshire, Bolodenka was given a break before running at Wolverhampton in January to prepare for his Dubai venture.

He kept on well to finish third that day, seeing off some higher-rated rivals in the process and that favourable impression was confirmed when he took fourth on his Dubai debut.

The five-year-old was not disgraced in being beaten a length and three-quarters behind Sir Gerard as he lost his place when the leaders kicked for home and was short of room when trying to produce a challenge.

Bolodenka stayed on well and looked booked for better on his next start, but his final Carnival outing proved something of a disappointment when fifth behind Diamond Quest.

It is often hard to fathom the value of Dubai form, but Bolodenka will certainly be forward enough after a period in the sun.

A definite plus is his progressive profile last year, winning twice within three days at the Galway Festival before defying a 14lb rise to run a cracker in defeat at York.

Although he tailed off a bit in his last two runs, it could be argued he was unsuited by a step up in trip and is better over a mile as he has registered three of his four wins at the distance.

With Dunelight unlikely to run, the weights are set to rise but Bolodenka still appears to be on an attractive mark and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at a best-priced 16-1 with William Hill.

(C) PA Sport