LOW NUMBERS POPULAR IN LINCOLN

Low draws were today all the rage for Saturday`s Randombet.com Lincoln at Doncaster.

As former England football coach Kevin Keegan picked out the names of the runners in the stg£50,000 handicap their connections plumped for single-figure draws.

Leading fancies Nimello (stall one), Kirovski (eight) and Vintage Premium (nine) are all set to race on the far side of the straight mile at Town Moor.

However, the evidence from the first day of the meeting may give those drawn low some concern.

The Badsworth Maiden Stakes run over the Lincoln course and distance was won by Gryffindor, drawn right against the stands` rail in 19.

And over the two races run on the five-furlong track the winners were drawn second-highest and fourth-highest respectively.

Lynda Ramsden`s duo John Ferneley in (stall 24) and Mastermind (stall four) have been drawn in opposite sides of the track.

John Ferneley had a possible alternative target in the Cammidge Trophy on the same card but connections took the decision to go for the longer race.

Toby Balding`s charge Bomb Alaska will come out of stall 21.

Leading fancy Lucky Gitano, as short as 9-1 with the Tote for the race this morning, missed out on a run in the Lincoln.

John Dunlop`s charge will run instead in tomorrow`s Randombet.com Spring Mile, the consolation race for horses eliminated from the feature race.

His rider Pat Eddery, who has yet to win the Lincoln, will have a mount in the race having been a late booking for the Martin Pipe-trained Swan Knight.

Desert Knight, who ran in today`s Doncaster Mile, was not declared for the one-mile contest, bringing Espada within the 24-runner safety limit for the race.

Tote bet: 5-1 Nimello, 8-1 Kirovski, 9-1 John Ferneley, 11-1 Vintage Premium, 12-1 Bomb Alaska, 14-1 Espada, 16-1 Highland Reel, Mastermind, Swan Knight, Atlantic Rhapsody, Captain Scott, 20-1 bar.