Glitters primed to be sparkling heavyweight
NORTHERN trainers have enjoyed plenty of success in the Lincoln Handicap over the last decade and LORD GLITTERS (Doncaster, nb, 3.35) could enhance that record today.
Last year’s winner Bravery meant David O’Meara was added to a recent roll call which includes Richard Fahey, John Quinn and Michael Dods and the selection could well provide the Upper Helmsley handler with back-to-back victories in this afternoon’s traditional turf curtain raiser.
Backing top weights in the Lincoln hasn’t been a particularly successful policy in recent years — Babodana in 2004 was the last horse to carry such a burden to victory.
However, modern-day flat handicaps of this value are often much more compressed affairs with a smaller weight differential between top and bottom weight.
Just 12lb separates Lord Glitters from his stablemate Bravery this year and it’s worth recalling that many previous winners of this race wouldn’t have even made the cut in this day and age.
Lord Glitters should not be underestimated just because he is top weight, as I doubt many rivals could have matched his two performances at Ascot last year.
The flashy grey served notice of his exciting turn of foot on his British debut when he overhauled all bar Accidental Agent in an 18-runner Ascot handicap last October.
Punters didn’t miss the promise of that performance and Lord Glitters was one of the gambles of the season in the Balmoral Handicap, where he again produced a sparkling change of gear under Danny Tudhope to beat track regular Gm Hopkins.
Acceleration of that magnitude is rarely found in handicappers and marked out O’Meara’s exciting miler as a horse capable of mixing it at a much higher level. Hopefully, that will come on the back of a Lincoln success and the hustle and bustle of today’s test should be perfect for a strong traveller who thrives on a generous pace.
I hope Dan Skelton’s decision to keep ROKSANA (Newbury, nap, 3.15) fresh for a tilt at the Mares’ Final can reap dividends.
Skelton advertised his ability at preparing a hurdler perfectly for the big day when Mohaayed landed last week’s County Hurdle and Roksana looks extremely progressive judged on her efforts over hurdles to date.