ZAAHID can scupper North Yorkshire stalwart Blythe Knight’s bid to make history in the historic Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster tomorrow on the opening day of the Flat turf season.

The mount of Robert Winston, Zaahid, one of Barry Hills’ two runners in the William Hill-sponsored showpiece, is napped to come out on top in this famous cavalry charge, probably at the main expense of Blythe Knight, who, if successful, would be the first nine-year-old to capture the Lincoln spoils.

The mount of Freddie Tylicki, Blythe Knight, winner of this race in 2006 and runner-up last year, has been primed for another Lincoln bid by Norton trainer John Quinn, who reports the gelding in good form, following an encouraging runner-up effort at Kempton recently.

Blythe Knight looks sure to run a big race yet again, but Zaahid is my idea of the winner. Fourth in last year’s Spring Mile, and also third in the Newbury Spring Cup, he went on to win the Victoria Cup over seven furlongs at Ascot. There is a slight suspicion that seven furlongs, rather than a mile, suits this strong traveller best, but, a year older, he may possess slightly more stamina this time around.

He certainly looks nicely handicapped and, although Hills also saddles the fancied Huzzah, the mount of his son, Michael, Zaahid is selected to emerge the stronger under Winston, who won the 2005 Lincoln on Stream Of Gold.

Expresso Star, the ante-post favourite, has strong claims, but the current ground is quicker than ideal for him and there is a doubt about him running unless conditions ease a little before tomorrow.

Mangham, trained in South Yorkshire by David Brown, was strongly fancied for the Lincoln, but failed to make the cut.

Instead, he goes for the ‘consolation race’, the William Hill Spring Mile and carries top weight.

With regular rider Paul Mulrennan on board, this strong-galloping gelding is expected to make a bold bid.

Kevin Ryan’s Tamagin, fit from the all-weather, has every chance of capturing the william.com Cammidge Trophy, while there are rumours circulating that Isle Of Ellis, a son of Statue Of Liberty, is well forward for the opening Brocklesby Stakes, the first juvenile contest of the season, which has attracted a bumper 22 runners.

The promising London Bridge will be a popular order in the Bob Beevers Memorial Maiden Stakes, while the Norton combination of trainer Brian Ellison and rider Lance Betts have every chance of winning the crownhotel-bawtry.com Apprentice Handicap with Elite Land, who is fit from hurdling.


Racing selections

Doncaster (tomorrow)
2.10 Isle Of Ellis, 2.45 Mangham, 3.20 Tamagin, 3.55 Zaahid (NAP), 4.30 London Bridge, 5.05 Planetary Motion, 5.40 Elite Land.

Kempton (tomorrow)
1.50 Changing The Guard, 2.25 Five Star Junior, 3.00 Cape Express, 3.35 Bronze Cannon, 4.10 Out The Ring, 4.45 Hogmaneigh, 5.20 Meshtri.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Lingfield, Uttoxeter.

Today’s meetings:
Ascot, Fontwell, Southwell, Wolverhampton.