Warning issued for Lincoln hot-pot

EXPRESSO Star features among a maximum field of 22 for the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster tomorrow.

The four-year-old comes into the race chasing a four-timer having won his final three starts last season, but connections have warned they want to see some rain if they are to let the colt take his chance.

Peter Shoemark, racing secretary for trainer John Gosden, said: “We are praying for a bit of rain. They only had 0.5mm overnight but there is a bit forecast before Saturday I think.”

Gosden is double-handed in the Flat season’s curtain-raiser with Charm School also among the acceptors, while Luca Cumani’s leading contender Swop also takes his chance.

The defection of last year’s winner Smokey Oakey means Lady Deauville has been left at the head of the weights, while the likes of Huzzah, Flipando and Don’t Panic all make the final field. As expected the well-fancied Fireside missed the cut and will instead bid for compensation in the William Hill Spring Mile earlier on the card along with Mangham and Spectait.