Morando tops the list as field for Lincoln is cut to 91

MORANDO, the ante-post favourite, is among 91 runners still left in the Betway Lincoln following the confirmation stage.

Roger Varian’s horse is guaranteed a place in the race which is the feature of Doncaster’s card on Saturday which is the opening day of the Flat turf season However, connections of other fancied horses are left waiting with John Gosden’s Sacred Act and the Richard Fahey-trained Nimr among those who need withdrawals at the 48-hour final declaration stage on Thursday to be sure of making the final field of 22 or otherwise contesting the consolation race, the Betway Spring Mile, which is available to the next 22 horses in the handicap.

The weights are headed on 9st 10lb by Battle Of Marathon, trained by John Ryan who won the race with Ocean Tempest in 2014.

“We’ve left him in the race and we’ll see how he works later in the week. We’re happy with him at home, so we’ll see what happens,” Varian explained and also said that Postponed will run next in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June.

Postponed finished third behind Jack Hobbs in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday, a race he won last year, and the trainer said: “I suppose after the level he got to last year, you always have high expectations. We’re disappointed to get beaten, but the more we reflect on it, the more we think he hasn’t run a bad race at all.

“Without wanting to make excuses, I don’t think the ground would have suited him, there was also a headwind and a slow pace. He just can’t quicken on that slower ground like he does on quicker ground, but I think you’ve got to congratulate the winner, who won very well on the night. He’s come out of the race fine. I haven’t seen him myself but he’s due to fly back today, so we’ll see how he is when he gets home.”

One horse making the news even before he has raced is President Trump.

The juvenile, who is trained in South Africa by Justin Snaith, was gelded earlier this month because he was so unruly and now the local racing authority has ruled that the name is too controversial.

An initial suggestion of Potus – the acronym for President of the United States – was also turned down so connections will try again with Fake News.