Fallon selected for Stewart Lincoln hope

Newmarket trainer Alec Stewart has snapped up champion jockey Kieren Fallon for Selective in the Freephone Stanley Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.

Fallon’s only success in the first leg of the ‘Spring Double’ came on High Premium in 1993.

Selective is one of three entries for Stewart in the handicap with Colisay and Island Light also set to represent Clarehaven Stables on Town Moor.

Stewart said: “We’ll see whether Island Light gets in or has to run the day before, but all three horses are very well and being aimed for it.

“Kieren Fallon will ride Selective, Richard Quinn will be on Colisay and Royston French will partner Island Light if the weights stay as they are.

“I don’t know which is the pick. They are three consistent handicappers and all will run off higher marks than they have won off before because they all ran well at the backend of last year, so who knows?

“They are all in very good form. They haven’t missed any work.

“We planned this and the three different owners were all keen to go for the Lincoln.

“It’s not usual that I keep four-year-old handicappers like these because we generally sell them as three-year-olds, but the owners wanted to keep them.”

Clive Brittain intends running Rafferty, a one-length third to Lygeton Lad over seven furlongs at Lingfield on Saturday, in the Lincoln.

The four-year-old incurred a 5lbs penalty for the race after winning a class C conditions event at Wolverhampton earlier this month, taking his weight at Doncaster to 8st 4lbs.

“He has taken Saturday’s race very well,” Brittain said. “He actually only lost two kilos so he didn’t hurt himself.

“It was a furlong too short for him at Lingfield. A mile is his trip.

“He was giving 5lbs to the winner and the second, which wasn’t a bad feat anyway.

“He has a fair chance on his Wolverhampton run and didn’t disgrace himself at Lingfield.

“He’ll go on good ground and if it continues drying out it certainly won’t affect him either.”

Riding arrangements have yet to be finalised for Rafferty.

All the leading fancies stood their ground following today’s confirmation stage with a massive total of 99 horses still in the Lincoln, which has a safety limit of 24, with those balloted out eligible for the consolation stanleybet.com Spring Mile the previous day.

A decision on ante-post favourite Adiemus’ participation is expected tomorrow.

The 5-1 market leader with William Hill and Coral finished a neck second to Parasol at Lingfield on Saturday when bidding for a repeat victory in the Winter Derby.

On his website, trainer Jeremy Noseda said: “We’ll see him on Tuesday and make a decision on the Lincoln then. He ran a big race on Saturday and there are no complaints.”

Last year’s winner Zucchero has been reported on course for the race by trainer David Arbuthnot while Paul Cole, who has won the Lincoln three times with Kuala Lipis (1997), John Ferneley (2000) and Nimello (2001) has three possibles in Cornelius, Certain Justice and Scent Of Victory.

Another trainer with multiple entries is Andrew Balding with Golden Chalice, Bourgainville and Dumaran.

Balding hopes to run all three on Town Moor but the Kingsclere trainer’s plans will be governed to a certain extent by the weather.

Bourgainville finished a promising fourth in the Winter Derby on his first start since being gelded to book his ticket in the Lincoln field.

“It depends a bit on the ground,” Balding said. “We’ll have a close look but we hope possibly three might make the line-up.

“Golden Chalice wants some rain. Bourgainville seems fine after his run on Saturday. He ran a nice race and will probably take his chance along with Dumaran but he ideally also wants a bit of rain.

“Jockey plans are undecided yet but it will probably be between Martin Dwyer, Liam Keniry and another.”

Golden Chalice is the shortest price of the trio with both William Hill and Coral making the son of Selkirk a 12-1 shot.

Pablo is second favourite with both firms and trainer Barry Hills has said he does not want the going too quick for his charge.

Cole is another trainer concerned over the drying conditions at Doncaster.

“I should get two in, Cornelius and Certain Justice. They are intended runners but I’m just a bit nervous about the ground as they are both good-to-soft horses and there’s the caution that if it goes firm they won’t run,” the Whatcombe trainer warned.

“They’ve got jockeys with Ryan Moore on Cornelius and Steve Drowne on Certain Justice.

“They’ve done very well over the winter but are better with a bit of give. If it’s real good ground they will run but not if it’s good to firm.”

The going at Doncaster is currently described as good to soft, good in places.

On the betting front Terry Mills’ Norton, sixth in the Winter Derby, has been supported with William Hill and is now 14-1, along with Colisay who was cut from 20-1.

Coral also reported money for Norton and trimmed Darryll Holland’s mount to 12-1 from 25-1 after laying several informative bets on the six-year-old, who won last season’s Royal Hunt Cup.

Freephone Stanley Lincoln betting