Lyons launches two-pronged attack on Lincolnshire
Lyons will saddle The God Of Love and Rockazar in the first major handicap of the turf season.
The County Meath handler has high hopes former Henry Cecil inmate The God Of Love can provide Mick Kinane with a flying start to the new campaign.
“He did well last year but he is ideally a 10-furlong horse,” explained Lyons.
“He has done well physically over the winter and if he transfers that on the track, he could be well handicapped.
“The ground is going to be heavy so it will be a case of who handles it the best.
“A mile is normally too short for him but the ground will bring his stamina into play. You will need a 10-furlong horse to win it.
“If his ability has improved as much as his physique he will be well handicapped – but we won’t know that until it runs.
“Rockazar is without doubt the best horse I have trained on the gallops. When his present owner bought him he was rated 65 and he is now in the 90s.
“He is a fine specimen of a horse and he could win the Lincoln no problem if it was run at home.
“He doesn’t like heavy ground and he is there to give his owner a day out but he will be trying his best.”
Among a host of potential threats in the valuable one-mile handicap is the Michael Halford-trained Deauville Vision.
The Danehill Dancer filly finished the 2006 campaign in good form by supplementing a course-and-distance victory with another success at Leopardstown.
Connections have been pleased with her progress throughout the winter months and are looking forward to seeing her back on the track this Sunday.
“She’s wintered well and she’s in good form,” reported Halford.
“This race is a big prize and she’s a course-and-distance winner who handles some ease in the ground so it was the obvious place to start off with her.
“It’s always a competitive race but she got her act together well at the end of last year and she’s gone the right way since.
“I don’t really know whether she’d love the heavy ground but she’ll handle it as well as most, I would think.”
Meanwhile Aidan O’Brien saddles his first juvenile runner of the season tomorrow.
The Ballydoyle team have declared three horses on the card, headed by 2000 Guineas entry Abraham Lincoln in the Ladbrokes 1800 777 888 Maiden.
The Danehill colt had two starts as a juvenile last year, finishing fifth in a Listed race on debut before chasing home Sadeek at York.
The two-year-old Georgebernardshaw makes his racecourse debut in the opening Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden.
A son of Danehill Dancer, he cost 300,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Sales last October.
Basalt reappears in the concluding Ladbrokes Poker EBF Maiden.
The Rock Of Gibraltar colt made a disappointing debut in the Goffs Million before improving to finish third in a Navan maiden last October.
