Lincoln Handicap Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends

2025 Lincoln Handicap Preview

The Lincoln Handicap kicks off the Flat season at Doncaster racecourse in the first leg of what punters know as the 'Spring Double' where you look to back the winners of both the Lincoln and the Grand National which are on consecutive weekends. The race is run over a straight mile at Doncaster, it is open to four-year-old runners or older.

The race was first run back in 1853 at the Lincoln racecourse but was moved to Doncaster in 1965 when the Lincoln racecourse was closed. Only two runners have ever won this race twice, Ob in 1906 & 1907 and then Babur in 1957 & 1958.

William Haggas' success with Addeybb in 2018 tied him as the most successful trainer in the race with four winners, equalling Jack Robinson's number of winners. Whilst Doncaster underwent redevelopment, the race was held at Redcar (2006) and Newcastle (2007).

Lincoln Handicap Information:

• Lincoln Handicap Past Winners
• Lincoln Handicap Trainer Statistics
• Lincoln Handicap Jockey Statistics

We also have a dedicated Doncaster tips page that will cover this race as well as all of the other races on the day of the race, see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are predicting to win this race and the others on the cards. You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information, head down to the Other Principal Races at Doncaster Racecourse section for links to these.

How competitive is the Lincoln Handicap market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2014 when the race had an over-round of 117%. The race in 2023 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 135%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Lincoln Handicap, the over-round has been 130%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £130 which is bet.

Lincoln Handicap Trends:

• 2025 Lincoln Handicap Trends
• Lincoln Handicap Trend Analysis

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Lincoln Handicap next time out then you would have backed a total of 1 winner. Backing all 18 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -15.50. Before placing your bet on the 2025 Lincoln Handicap see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.

The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2023 renewal when Migration from David Menuisier under the guidance of Benoit De La Sayette, won in a time of 1:47.86, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Expresso Star, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Jimmy Fortune set the quickest time of 1:36.51 in the 2009 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Lincoln Handicap over the last 20 renewals:

1. Expresso Star (1:36.51) in 2009
2. Auxerre (1:36.82) in 2019
3. Johan (1:37.34) in 2022

Lincoln Handicap Past Winners

Here are the Lincoln Handicap past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. Also detailed is the stall where the horse came from and the total number of runners in the race. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Lincoln Handicap as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the starting price the horse was sent off.

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Lincoln Handicap have been based:

• GB: 20 winners with an additional 59 placings from 418 runners
• IRE: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 8 runners
• UAE: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner

Lincoln Handicap Trainer Statistics

The leading trainer in the Lincoln Handicap over the last 20 renewals is William Haggas who has won the race three times with those three winners coming from Very Wise (2007), Penitent (2010) and Addeybb (2018). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Lincoln Handicap are Richard Fahey (2 wins), John Quinn (2 wins) and Charlie Appleby (2 wins). Multiple trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Lincoln Handicap, Kevin Ryan (0-12), David Barron (0-10), K R Burke (0-10) and Andrew Balding (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Here are some of the top Lincoln Handicap trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

Lincoln Handicap Jockey Statistics

There are multiple leading jockeys in the Lincoln Handicap over the last 20 renewals with Tony Hamilton, James Doyle and Benoit De La Sayette having all won the race two times. Tony Hamilton winners have been with Brae Hill (2012) and Gabrial (2015). James Doyle winners have been with Addeybb (2018) and Auxerre (2019). Benoit De La Sayette winners have been with Haqeeqy (2021) and Migration (2023).

Here are some of the top Lincoln Handicap jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

2025 Lincoln Handicap Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 19, 1, 12, 15, 7, 1, 1, 10, 5, 17, (2, 5), 10, 18, 2, 2, 1, 11, 12, 5, 5

The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones as you would expect them to do well.

• 20 / 20 (74%) - Within the first 15 of the market
• 20 / 20 (79%) - No bigger than 33/1
• 20 / 20 (79%) - Made 4 - 33 starts (Career)
• 20 / 20 (79%) - Made 1 - 25 starts (Hcps)
• 20 / 20 (81%) - In a field of 7 - 20 (Last Win)
• 20 / 20 (82%) - Achieved a TS of 79+ (Last 5)
• 20 / 20 (84%) - Had 1 - 6 wins (Career)
• 20 / 20 (86%) - Had 2 - 15 placings (Career)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Highest Run is not G2/Cl4
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Achieved a TS of 84+ (Career)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Off a break of 13 - 210 days
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Fewer than 8 placings (Trip)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Sex is not Filly/Horse/Mare/Rig
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Fewer than 6 wins (Hcps)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Not on GF/FM/FS (LTO)

Remember to use the trends listed above along with the Doncaster racing predictions to see if you can find the winner of the Lincoln Handicap. You may want to do your research into the race, there are times when there are several runners who pass the trends so you need to do your research to find a bet, we have a Horse Racing Form Reading Made Easy & What to Look For article to help you do just this in the OLBG Betting School section.

Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, It is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Lincoln Handicap by adding a tip on the race here.

Lincoln Handicap Trend Analysis

The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +35.83 is when runners ran in a race restricted to 3yo+ last time out. The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 1 season start, when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-74.

Here are the most recent winning draws along with the further placings in brackets:

• 2024: Winner in 2 (14,1,19) [20 Runners]
• 2023: Winner in 12 (17,4,16) [22 Runners]
• 2022: Winner in 4 (3,19,1) [22 Runners]
• 2021: Winner in 10 (15,1,9) [18 Runners]
• 2019: Winner in 17 (22,14,11) [19 Runners]

The course which has produced the most winners of the Lincoln Handicap is Newmarket (Rowley), there has been a total number of 5 winners of this race who ran at Newmarket (Rowley) last time out. The next best course which has produced the second most winners is Meydan, there has been a total number of 3 winners of this race who ran at Meydan last time out.

The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 417 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 10 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Lincoln Handicap, that stallion Pivotal has produced 2 winners (2018,2013).

These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Lincoln Handicap despite multiple attempts:

• Invincible Spirit (0 Wins from 9 runners)
• Footstepsinthesand (0 Wins from 7 runners)
• Clodovil (0 Wins from 6 runners)
• Danehill Dancer (0 Wins from 6 runners)
• Dutch Art (0 Wins from 6 runners)

Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Mr Professor in 2024, winning for Dominic Ffrench Davis at odds of 33/1 under the guidance of David Egan. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there have been 4 winning favourites in the race. Remember to bookmark the best racing tipsters page so you can get easy access to the best OLBG racing tipsters.

Other Principal races at Doncaster racecourse

Here are some other notable races at the Doncaster racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.

Races in January

• Great Yorkshire Chase

Races in March

• Grimthorpe Handicap Chase
• Spring Mile

Races in September (St Leger Festival)

• Carrie Red Fillies Nursery
• Doncaster 2yo Stakes
• May Hill Stakes
• Park Hill Stakes
• Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap
• Doncaster Cup
• Doncaster Groundworks Reinforcements Handicap
• Flying Childers Stakes
• Flying Scotsman Stakes
• Mallard Handicap
• Champagne Stakes
• Hippo Pro 3 Sealant Handicap
• Park Stakes
• PJ Towey Construction Handicap
• Portland Heritage Handicap
• St Leger
• City of Doncaster Handicap
• Scarbrough Stakes
• Sceptre Stakes

Races in October

• Doncaster Stakes
• Futurity Trophy
• Futurity Trophy Weekend 5f Handicap
• Futurity Trophy Weekend 6f Handicap