Leading contenders remain on course for StanleyBet Lincoln

All the leading contenders remain on course for the Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln with 109 going forward at the second confirmation stage, details of which were revealed yesterday, Wednesday, March 10.

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The maximum number of runners for the £100,000 handicap on Doncaster´s straight mile is 24 on Saturday, March 27, and luckily there is a consolation race the day before - the Freephone Stanleybet Spring Mile Handicap.

The ante-post market for the big race is currently jointly headed by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Fremen, a lightly-raced colt owned by the Niarchos family who was impressive in winning two races at Windsor and Ripon last season. The son of Rahy is rated a 12/1 chance with the sponsors, along with Marcus Tregoning´s Alkaadhem, another lightly-raced type who won two of his three starts in 2003. Alkaadhem was last seen out when taking a classified stakes at the Glorious Goodwood meeting in July, 2003.

The 2003 Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln winner Pablo is due to bid to become only the third dual winner of the famous handicap and the first since Babur in 1957 and 1958, while Norton, third 12 months ago and winner of the Royal Hunt Cup in 2002, is also set to take part.

Other leading contenders include Chivalry, winner of the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last season when trained by Sir Mark Prescott and now under the care of Howard Johnson after being purchased by owner Graham Wylie. Chivalry has been hurdling over the winter months, winning two of his three starts.

There could be some Doncaster clues at Wolverhampton on Saturday in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Lincoln Trial. Among the 27 entries for the contest are Freephone Stanleybet Lincoln entries Quito, who may attempt a historic big handicap double, having won the Ayr Gold Cup in September, Cornelius, representing Lincoln specialist Paul Cole, and Kevin Ryan´s Cardinal Venture, a three-time winner on the all-weather at the end of last season.

Trainer Gay Kelleway should be able to decide which of her horses will run at Doncaster after Wolverhampton on Saturday as she has Lygeton Lad and Te Quiero entered in both races.