Arrogate’s scintillating performance in last Saturday’s Dubai World Cup got the tastebuds going for some high class flat turf action again and, many thousands of miles away from the bright lights and glamour of Meydan, our own domestic action kicks off in style this Saturday with its traditional curtain-raiser, the Betway Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

With the likes of Sacred Art, Ballet Concerto and Nimr narrowly missing the cut and the well fancied Roger Varian-trained Morando suffering a late setback, Yuften now sits pretty at the top of the market at 4-1 after his promising reappearance on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last month when finishing fast and late for an unlucky 3^rd.

Only 4lb’s higher than his impressive Balmoral Handicap victory at Ascot in October, Roger Charlton’s inmate was revitalised by a change of scenery and a gelding operation last season and soft ground should pose no problem on Saturday.

Four-year-olds have traditionally had an excellent record in the race and one of the three representatives from this younger brigade is a new recruit to David O’Meara in the shape of Bravery, a colt by Galileo whom the talented young handler has the unenviable task of trying to improve off his genius former trainer Aiden O’Brien.

O’Meara saddled a horse with a similar profile in Mondialiste to finish second in this two years ago and Bravery could go well at 12-1. Zhui Feng is another progressive four-year-old who boasted some top handicap form last season and was a promising 4^th in the Winter Derby on his reapperance at the end of February for Amanda Perrett. He is drawn next to Yuften on the middle to stands side and has a big chance.

Richard Hannon’s Oh This Is Us is the final member of this younger crop and he has been plying his trade over the winter in Dubai where he has run a couple of good races and he has the services of Ryan Moore.

Brian Ellison is always a force to be reckoned with in this kind of race and he saddles Top Notch Tonto and Dream Walker this time around, both of whom had a pipe opener on the all-weather last month to put them straight for this. The former is not badly treated nowadays and has the talented 7lb apprentice Ben Robinson in the hot seat whilst Dream Walker was progressive last season and will appreciate any ease in the going.

At bigger odds, Master Carpenter is a very well handicapped horse on old form and 33-1 could underestimate his chances for the highly capable Rod Millman, whilst Highland Colori is a very likeable and consistent sort who has been aimed at this race by Andrew Balding and holds decent claims for the minor honours at similarly big odds.

Betting reaction

We also spoke with BetBright’s Conor White about the start of the new flat season, and he told TheGamblingTimes.com: “Let’s concentrate on the the darling of Doncaster, Andrea Atzeni responsible for piloting the last four winners of the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at this track has been snapped up to ride pre-race favourite Yuften by trainer Roger Charlton.

“That’s a significant positive and the six year old, who has placed in a Group 1 during his career could potentially outclass rivals if he runs to his very best level. The jockey himself said that Yuften “was still improving and unlucky not to win his last race at Wolverhampton, he’s come on a lot for the run.”

“That might be all you need to know but only two favourites have landed the race in the last ten years so it’s as competitive as it looks with a big field going to post and with returned winning sp’s of 12/1, 12/1, 33/1, 20/1, 25/1 and 16/1 for the last 6 winners you can dig a little deeper for a selection.

“Donncha was second in the consolation race last year for trainer Robert Eddery and is back with a big chance of going one better in the feature this time around. Last years third Battle of Marathon could be lively for a big run again and John Ryan is reported to be happy enough with his charge’s fitness coming in to the race for a first run of the year.

“You can never rule out anything from David O’Meara in big handicaps and especially when he is taking over the training of a horse from another yard. Bravery was fourth in last season’s Irish 2000 Guineas and was purchased for 44k during the Autumn. O’Meara has played down his hopes for Bravery on a first run back but the four year old has potential left to be fulfilled still and no better man to bring that about than the Yorkshire based handler..”

Full betting with BetBright: Yuften 9/2, Donncha 8/1, Top Notch Tonto 11/1, Bravery 12/1, Oh This Is Us 14/1, Dolphin Vista 14/1 – 16/1 BAR…. E/W 4 Places 1/4 odds