A-plus for Addeybb
WILLIE HAGGAS knows what’s required to win the 32Red Lincoln and his 2018 candidate Addeybb is proven in big-field handicaps – so that’s two key boxes ticked already.
Haggas pulled off a surprise to win the first big betting race of the Flat turf season in 1992 with 16-1 chance High Low, but his two other Lincoln winners were much more strongly fancied.
Very Wise triumphed at 9-1 in 2007 and Penitent justified favouritism in the hands of Johnny Murtagh eight years ago.
Addeybb (3.35, nap) is among the market leaders today and it is easy to see why after his success in the Silver Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last autumn.
Never far from the action he showed a real stomach for a fight when getting up close home to nail Afaak and reward his many backers. Abbeybb has not run since that day in late September but Haggas has taken the trouble to hone his challenger’s training programme with a recent racecourse spin at Chelmsford City.
Another traditional opening-day prize, the Unibet Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs, gives Lancelot Du Lac (1.50) the chance to become 2018’s first domestic Flat winner on turf.
Guaranteed in top form – he ran right up to his best when winning at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago – his grass wins include last season’s Stewards Cup at Goodwood. At Newbury, those who fancied Oistrakh Le Noir (2.40) for the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Festival, where he failed to make the cut, will pile into the Be Wiser Hurdle where he looks the pick of the weights on his handicap debut.