HANDFUL

Maria Rilke once said: “Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.”

My eight-year-old son informed me yesterday that people start using their trampolines at this time of the year – spring time.

Any gambler worth his salt knows that spring officially starts when the Lincoln is run.

Autumn comes some time later, when I back my first winner of the Flat season.

The Lincoln is always a hugely competitive big-field affair and accordingly I’m not keen on Michael Bell’s horse Fire Brigade, who has been backed in from 10s to 6-1 favouritism this week.

God knows what he did last week to warrant such enthusiasm. Win a race at Cheltenham?

Four wins last season, two on soft ground, suggest that he’s going to be the one to beat here, particularly as Ryan Moore has been booked to ride.

But the value has disappeared — especially when you consider 10 of the last 15 favourites have gone unplaced. It’s been a while since the top weight won this race, which is the only thing that puts me off Lord Glitters.

The five-year-old won the valuable Balmoral Handicap Ascot’s Champions Day when the going was soft and that looks strong form compared to most of the rest.

I did tip Gabrial in this column a couple of years ago, who won at a lofty 12-1.

Richard Fahey’s nineyear-old tries his luck again today having finished fourth last year. I wouldn’t discount his chances of finishing in the frame again.

The one I really think could be primed for a big run is another of Fahey’s horses

He’s a course winner, has a favourable high draw and will love the soft ground. The only question mark is whether he’ll stay the mile as his last three runs have all been over seven furlongs. He popped up at 50-1 in the 27-runner field in the International at Ascot last July and seemed full of running.

I’m hoping he can pop up at a big price again today.

STAMP HILL.