23rd March 2026 – There were 65 remaining entries at the five-day stage for the William Hill Lincoln including ante-post favourite La Botte who finished fourth in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton earlier this month.
Harry Eustace’s lightly raced 4-year-old caught the eye when running on last time out. That was his first start since finishing a neck second in the Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot and he has been the subject of consistent support in the market for this contest in recent weeks.
Eustace said: “He seems to have come out of it very well. We’re obviously delighted with how he ran and to be honest the race did the last of the heavy lifting work wise for him, we’ve just been ticking him over into Saturday.”
He added: “I think in time he will stay a mile and a quarter so at the very least I hope there’s a bit of improvement there but we’re unexposed on the grass, I think he’ll enjoy a bit of cut in the ground as well so I’m hoping there’s improvement to come.”
The Lost King has benefitted greatly for being gelded and regained the winning thread in the aforementioned Lincoln Trial. He has been raised 5lbs for that success and this is one valuable handicap his trainer Andrew Balding is yet to win.
No trainer has won more renewals of the William Hill Lincoln than William Haggas who has five victories in this race to his name. He could become the first trainer since Paul Cole in 2001 to land back-to-back renewals of the Lincoln with Eternal Force seeking a four-timer. The Sheikh Juma-owned 4-year-old is unbeaten in three starts since being gelded.
Dual course winner Rogue Diplomat is another horse who signed off his campaign last year in a rich vein of form. He is looking for a fifth consecutive career win, but this would be only his second start over 1m having raced over 7f for most of his career.
His trainer James Owen said: “It’s great for Rogues Gallery to have a runner in the Lincoln. We dreamt all winter about it, from his last two runs at Doncaster. He’s a strong traveller, he was very weak as a two year old, he developed physically the whole way through his three-year-old career and I think that’s why he came alive at the end of it and won those last three races.”
He continued: “He’s got a lovely mark, we think he’s a pattern horse, he’s going to need to be. I’ve never had a runner in the Lincoln and it’s great to have one in it. He is a much stronger horse than last season and his work’s been great, I think he has a big chance.”
The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Shout is also a course winner. He produced a career-best to win at Ascot on his penultimate start and was then fourth in the Balmoral Handicap on his final start of the year.
Botanical could drop down to 1m on what would be his first start for Karl Burke after being moved from the George Boughey stable. The 6-year-old was placed in the Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed) on this card last year.
The William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed) has attracted 12 entries and Harry Eustace is also responsible for the ante-post favourite in this contest, with Royal Ascot winner Docklands likely to start his campaign on Town Moor this weekend.
In the William Hill Cammidge Trophy Stakes there have been a total of 14 entries made including Group 1 winner Montassib who is now approaching the latter end of his career at the age of 8.
This year's Brocklesby Stakes is renamed the William Hill Bill Turner Memorial EBF Brocklesby Stakes in honour of Bill Turner, who died in 2025 aged 78.
A leading trainer of precocious two-year-olds, Turner remains the race’s most successful trainer with six wins between 1996 and 2013 and enjoyed a long and distinguished career spanning over 45 years.
The Brocklesby has produced smart juveniles including Persian Force, The Last Lion and Chipotle.
Run over 5-furlongs, this £40,000 contest opens Doncaster’s Lincoln Day card and is the first 2-year-old race of the UK turf flat season.
This Saturday will see the launch of the PJA’s Ride of The Year initiative at Doncaster Racecourse where a £1,000 cash prize will be on offer to the winning jockey.
Dale Gibson, Racing Director of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “We're delighted to be joining with Doncaster Racecourse to launch the Flat 'Ride of the Year' to coincide with the start of their turf season. This initiative is particularly appropriate during Doncaster's 250th anniversary celebrations for the Betfred St Leger and will give their annual members the chance to choose the best jockey performance on Town Moor in 2026.
We hope the competition will create considerable interest while providing the winning jockey with a cash prize and additional benefits when the season draws to a close in November.''
