Top trainer quotes for the Lincoln, the first big Flat handicap of the season

Unibet Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) | 1m | 4yo+ | ITV/Sky

In one of racing's grandest old handicaps, two new faces in the sport are combining as they look to kick off the new Flat turf season in style.

Thady Gosden appears alongside his father John as co-trainer of leading Lincoln contender Haqeeqy, while Benoit de la Sayette, the first apprentice jockey to be attached to the Gosden stable in 29 years, takes the ride on the four-year-old.

Victory for Haqeeqy would prove poignant as he carries the colours of Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, daughter of the hugely influential owner Sheikh Hamdan, who died this week aged 75.

John Gosden said: "As Shadwell's retained riders Jim Crowley and Dane O'Neill are unavailable and given Haqeeqy is up 7lb for his last run, we decided that Benoit's 7lb claim would come in handy.

"He's ridden him at home and gets on well with him. He's stepping up to a mile again, which he has yet to win over, but he's been shaping as if he'll get the trip in his work. He has a middle draw in stall ten, so has the option for going either side if he needs to."

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Johan
He's got plenty of weight but I'm happy with him. He's been going nicely. He's probably too high in the weights to win, but he's very genuine.

David O'Meara, trainer of Orbaan and Hortzadar
Orbaan looked a very good horse when he won at York but he was in-and-out a little bit. He's had a good preparation this spring. Hortzadar is plenty high enough in the handicap but he's very solid.

Karl Burke, trainer of Born To Be Alive
He's in good shape and we're very happy with him but the ground is rapidly going against him, so we'll likely have to walk the course before deciding what to do. We always thought he had the potential to be a Group horse, so to get him back up to genuinely being a Listed-class horse after all his time off is a credit to the team.

Smart sort: Zabeel Prince, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, defeats Born To Be Alive in the Listed Unibet Doncaster Mile StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Clive Cox, trainer of River Nymph
He's done very well over the winter and I think you can disregard his last start as he'd just gone off after having a very pleasing season. He's yet to prove himself over a mile, but hopefully it's in his range and I've been really pleased with him.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of King Ottokar
He's in good form and this has been the plan since the Balmoral Handicap. He's had a perfect preparation and is suited by big fields but we're hoping for a little bit of rain. I don't want firm in the description and there's a chance he could be a non-runner if the ground is too quick.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Brentford Hope
He's working well, I'm happy with him. Both the races he's won on the bridle but all his other races, when he comes off the bit, he finds nothing.

Jamie Spencer sits motionless as Brentford Hope cruises home at HaydockCredit: John Grossick

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Eastern World
Eastern World won impressively on his one start in Dubai over the winter and travelled back to the UK well. The one thing he does take into this race is that he is fit and ready to go – he looked fantastic when he got off the plane. Both our previous winners of the Lincoln were also drawn high, so hopefully stall 19 is a good sign.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Man Of The Night and Ouzo
Man Of The Night has really matured into a strong horse and the run at Wolverhampton will have put him spot on for this. He's relatively lightly raced and I'd like to think there is still a bit to come from him. Ouzo's always been a very consistent and talented horse. This is a tough return but it's been the plan for quite some time.

Roger Varian, trainer of Ascension
I'd be happier if the ground was good to soft. He's trained very nicely and it's a good starting point. It looks a good Lincoln this year. Historically stall six would be a nice draw, but most of the pace seems to be from the high numbers so we'll have to see.

Read more of Saturday's previews . . .

Roger Varian: 'He has race-fitness on his side and he's quite a smart horse'

'We've not got to the bottom of him yet' – Loughnane bullish about Dark Pine

Rose Of Arcadia looks a talented mare ready to bloom for Cheveley Park

Plenty of life in old boy Brando as veteran sprinter begins another season

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