Expert Analyses Trending Bets for the Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster

The flat season kicks off in style this weekend at Doncaster with the Lincoln meeting marking the return to racing on the turf. It’s always an exciting weekend, packed with competitive fields and there are a lot of strong fancies according to the market. I’ve taken a look at the five best backed horses for Doncaster over on Oddschecker, assessing their chances and judging how tempting they are at the current prices.

Each runner is rated from one to five stars, giving a clear guide on who looks solid, who looks backable, and who might just need to improve before being trusted fully at the prices! Let’s start the season in style!

SHOUT - William Hill Lincoln Handicap (5 Star)

The first horse we’re taking a look at for the Lincoln is Shout, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. He comes into the race off a mark of 101, carrying near top weight, but there’s plenty to suggest he still has a lot more to offer.

He’s a well-bred gelding by Authorized, and this mile trip looks ideal. He’s always shaped like a horse with plenty of ability, but it was a case of waiting for everything to click, and towards the end of last season, it looked like it finally did.

He won impressively at Ascot off a mark of 91 on soft ground, coming from the back in a 17 runner field, and then followed up with a huge run under a 9lb rise on a switch to good ground when finishing fourth behind Crown Of Oaks in a competitive 20 runner race at Ascot again.

That effort can be marked up too because he was slowly away and met trouble in running, yet still finished strongly all the way to the line, and with a clearer path early on, he may well have got even clser.

This looks a really progressive four year old, and with a bit more maturity, there should be plenty more to come. It’s also worth noting his only run at Doncaster resulted in an easy three length win, with Rab Havlin in the saddle that day as well.

At a double figure price, and with plenty of places on offer, he has to be of serious interest in this year’s Lincoln.

ETERNAL FORCE - William Hill Lincoln Handicap (3 Star)

Another interesting contender in the Lincoln is Eternal Force, who has been well backed in the lead up to the race and is the sole representative for William Haggas.

That’s a notable angle, as Haggas has an outstanding record in the Lincoln Handicap, with five wins to his name, including last year’s winner Godwinson, and he relies on just this one runner again this season. Eternal Force does look like a horse with potential to improve, but he showed a fair bit of his ability last season, and I’m not convinced he’s quite as well handicapped as some of the others in the field.

His lack of experience in a race of this nature is another slight concern. That said, it would be naive to dismiss him, because he has won his last three starts to finish the season, and Haggas knows exactly what it takes to win this race. It does feel like he’s one of those who could go either way.

He might take a big step forward and develop into a Group performer, or what we’ve already seen may prove to be his level, which might not quite be enough here.

There’s definite appeal, but he’s one you’d want to approach with a bit of caution unless you get an each-way price.

SPYCATCHER - Cammidge Trophy Stakes (4 Star)

The Cammidge Stakes looks typically competitive this season, but Spycatcher has come in for plenty of support, and it’s easy to see why. We’ll touch on his form in a moment, but he’s been a terrific servant for Karl Burke, and a multiple Group winner who seems to have improved with age. Now an eight year old rated 111, he still looks well treated in this field, especially considering he won this race on his seasonal return last year too.

Looking at this year’s lineup, it doesn’t appear any stronger than that renewal, and he’s one of just three course and distance winners in the field and he rates comfortably the best of those.

He ticks plenty of boxes in the races, and you’d imagine this has been the plan again first time out. At his best, he sets a very high standard, and his class across multiple Group races in different countries, will make him tough to beat if he turns up in similar form.

Solid as they come, especially at this track. You’d imagine the money will keep coming for him too.

DOCKLANDS - Doncaster Mile Stakes (4 Star)

There’s been strong support for Docklands in the Mile Stakes, and he’s a horse I’m a big fan of. He won the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot last season and has been campaigned at the highest level since, holding his own in some top races.

He signed off 2025 with a solid fourth in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, and this return to a mile at Doncaster Racecourse should suit him well. I’m not completely convinced Doncaster is tailor made for him, but on pure class alone, he’s unlikely to be far away considering he is rated 4lb clear of his nearest rival. The main question is how ready he’ll be on his seasonal return.

He may not need to be at his absolute best to win this, but I’d be more inclined to back him second or third time out, when he’s more likely to hit peak form.

So while he’s the one to beat on paper, I don’t have a horse to take him on with, so I’ll keep this as a watching brief. It just wouldn’t surprise me if he just finds one too good on this occasion.

MEZCALA - Spring Mile Handicap (3 Star)

Mezcala is the clear favourite for the Spring Mile, and his owners Jon and Julia Aisbitt, have enjoyed plenty of success at this meeting, winning the Lincoln twice with Johan and again last year with Godwinson. Mezcala himself was entered for the Lincoln but was unlikely to get in, so he lines up here instead, and he looks potentially very well handicapped off a mark of just 85.

This is a horse who could easily rate much higher in time, and being by Expert Eye, the mile trip looks ideal. He’s shown both speed and stamina so far, and shaped well when stepped up in trip at Newmarket on his final start last season, only fading late on firm ground.

That run suggested he’s very much a true miler, and the fact he travelled strongly for much of the race indicates this small 1lb rise shouldn’t be an issue. Having a touch of soft in the description will be no issue for him either.

The only slight concern is the price. I’m not sure I want to take it in a race where plenty will need to go right, but at the same time, he clearly has a strong chance of getting the job done. It’s just the mid race antics that worry me at that price.