Yuften in good order as Charlton looks to better Lincoln record

His record in the Betway Lincoln Handicap is hardly sparkling but Roger Charlton hopes Yuften can change all that as the British turf Flat season begins at Doncaster on Saturday.

Charlton's six-year-old is a 13-2 chance with the sponsors, who make Morando their 5-1 favourite after 91 acceptors were revealed at the five-day stage on Monday.

Yuften was making just his second appearance for Charlton when winning Ascot's Balmoral Handicap, in which the Roger Varian-trained Morando was seventh after a troubled passage. He goes to post with an excellent recent third in Wolverhampton's Lincoln Trial Handicap under his belt.

Charlton, who bids to rectify what he admits is a largely forgettable record in the first big handicap of the Flat season, said: "Yuften goes to the Lincoln in good form having enjoyed a good preparation. I thought he ran a very good race at Wolverhampton, where he came from second last and might have got there in another couple of strides.

"Had he won he would have incurred a penalty, so that's a positive so far as the Lincoln is concerned, and if he had won he would possibly have been aimed instead at the more valuable all-weather championships, but he's not qualified there."

He added: "My Lincoln record is pretty non-existent, but I haven't had many runners. My strike-rate at this time of year is not great, but we've had the race in mind ever since the Balmoral."

There were few surprises among the acceptors at the top end of the handicap but, with a maximum field of 22, leading fancies Ballet Concerto (24 in the pecking order), Chelsea Lad (25), Sacred Act (27) and Nimr (only 31 despite his penalty) all need higher-weighted horses to come out. The race also offers the consolation of the Spring Mile.

Charlton hopes that disappointing efforts from his two runners at Meydan on Saturday can be attributed to unusually soft ground. He said: "Jamie Spencer reported that Quest For More moved well cantering down but said it rode softer in the race and that he was all at sea. His form suggests he should have been right up there, but he was beaten a long way out.

"Decorated Knight likes it quick and had never run on ground like that. Both were fine though on Sunday morning."

Charlton added that his Qipco 1,000 Guineas hope Fair Eva, who will be among Frankel's first Classic runners, has "definitely grown and put weight on as you would hope and expect" and has had a trouble-free run so far. He is undecided about a prep race, but said probably not.

The going at Doncaster remains good to soft, soft in places. Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan said: "There's a chance of showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and again over the weekend, but at the moment they are not forecasting significant amounts."

Betway Lincoln weights