MIST A K E ’ S L U C K Y DAY..
Irish Lincolnshire can go to Adrian Keatley’s soft ground loving four-year-old gelding
The ground is going to make the opening day quite a test for many of the runners, but it will not be a problem for the Adrian Keatley-trained ace.
Since coming to Ireland, this gelding has won twice and shown a definite liking for soft ground.
He has a light weight to aid his cause, his yard can often get off a fast start in the spring, and he does stay further than a mile which will aid his cause.
It is also worth remembering that Lucky Mistake has good course form as he only just lost out to the similarly progressive Inscribe on the final day of the 2017 season.
He is preferred to the useful Jessica Harrington inmate Pincheck, who won a mile handicap on heavy ground at this track in September.
Earlier, the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes looks a more straightforward affair, with Making Light preferred to Elegant Pose.
These two fillies clashed twice last season and Making Light came out on top first time, before Elegant Pose got her revenge in the Garnet Stakes over this course and distance.
There is very little to choose between them, but on this occasion preference is for the Dermot Weld inmate.
She is a tough and reliable sort and it is worth recalling that she bolted up on heavy ground at Limerick during her two-year-old career.
As well as landing the Lincoln, Keatley could also make his mark with London Icon in the Madrid Handicap.
This colt does have to carry top weight, but is a potentially high-class sort who can go on to hold his own at a higher level.
Elsewhere, the classy Son Of Rest can win the sprint handicap, although he does have his share of weight.
He will love the ground and last season he was competing at a much higher level such as when he was third to Caravaggio in the Group 2 Flying Five Stakes.
His rider claims a useful 5lb which should aid his cause considerably.
Aidan O’brien could make his mark with the useful Hence, who lines up in the six-furlong maiden.
Rawaan’s first run behind the exciting Contingent was good and that earns her the vote in the concluding mile maiden.