Doncaster king Atzeni switches to new Lincoln favourite Yuften

The clamour for the services of Andrea Atzeni was underlined on Thursday morning when the in-demand rider was snapped up for new Betway Lincoln favourite Yuften as soon as the race's previous market leader Morando was ruled out of the contest.

Atzeni spoke in the most enthusiastic manner about Yuften, quoted by the sponsors at a best-priced 9-2 to land the turf season's first big prize, staged over a course and distance on which the Roger Charlton-trained six-year-old's jockey has developed a history of excelling.

Rivet's victory in last season's Racing Post Trophy - staged, like the Lincoln, over Doncaster's straight mile - gave Atzeni his fourth consecutive victory in the Group 1 feature.

On Saturday he will be chasing top handicap honours, but the horse he will be steering has a Group 1 past of which to be proud, having finished second in the 2014 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly when based with William Haggas.

Following a subsequent stint with Johnny Murtagh, Yuften was moved last summer by owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Sagar to join Charlton, who sent out his new recruit to capture Ascot's £250,000 Balmoral Handicap under Atzeni.

The Lincoln has been Yuften's aim since that October afternoon and he heads to the race off the back of an eye-catching Wolverhampton third and with a BHA rating of 105, only 4lb more than the mark he won off on Qipco British Champions Day.

With Morando ruled out after suffering what trainer Roger Varian described as "a minor setback", Atzeni switched saddles to Yuften, who had been linked to last year's Lincoln-winning rider William Buick.

Atzeni said: "I'm stable jockey to Roger, so I was always going to ride Morando. Unfortunately he can't now run, so as I also have an agreement to ride for Saleh and Imad this season I've luckily got back on Yuften.

"I think Yuften is a very good horse. I was on him when he won the Balmoral, since when he's been gelded. He's still improving and he ran a good race last time at Wolverhampton, where he was probably unlucky not to win. He flew home that day and he's come on a lot for the run."

Andrea Atzeni is keen on the Lincoln prospects of YuftenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Three of what had been the top four horses in the betting will not be taking part, with Chelsea Lad and Sacred Act having failed to make what turned out to be a demanding cut, given Morando was the only candidate in the top 22 (the Lincoln's maximum field size) not declared.

However, while Sacred Act now tackles the consolation Spring Mile under Atzeni, Chelsea Lad will bypass Doncaster, where the ground on Thursday remained good to soft.

Trainer Martyn Meade said: "I'm furious really because I think the race should have reserves, regardless of there being a consolation event. I wouldn't want him to be carrying a big weight in testing ground, so we'll wait now for the Spring Cup at Newbury.

"Obviously if the whole field ends up running in the Lincoln I'll have no reason to be grumpy, but if a couple come out of the race it really will be annoying."

A Lincoln draw bias has been hard to detect in recent years and this season's leading market hopes are berthed right across the track - Yuften starts from stall 14 - as are the five runners representing Richard Fahey, who is sweetest on Paul Hanagan's mount Dolphin Vista.

Fahey said: "He was gelded over the winter and has been working well. He's definitely better on soft ground."

Atzeni's Saturday mounts also include 2016 winer Mobsta in the Betway Cammidge Trophy, while on Sunday his Doncaster chances could include the Varian-trained conditions race entry UAE Prince, who last year failed to justify a lofty reputation in three outings.

Even so, Atzeni names him as one of the horses he is most looking forward to teaming up with this year, another being his Qipco 2,000 Guineas-entered stablemate Cape Byron and Decorated Knight, already a 2017 Group 1 winner for the jockey and Charlton.

"I'm looking forward to riding Cape Byron," said Atzeni. "Decorated Knight has already done well for me this year and I've still got a lot of faith in UAE Prince.

"I'm very lucky as I have a contract with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, the best of Roger's horses and an agreement to ride all of Saleh and Imad's horses when I'm available. That puts me in a good position and gives me a lot of lovely horses."

Reflecting on Postponed's third in last week's Dubai Sheema Classic, he added: "I expected him to pick up better than he did but the ground was a bit loose for him. He still ran a good race."

Betway Lincoln card and form