Boy bid for Doncaster depends on ground
Chris Dwyer has warned he will not risk Mia's Boy if the ground is faster than good in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.
The Newmarket trainer plans to run the five-year-old if the ground is good or softer and is praying for rain.
"He's on target, but I just want some rain up there," said Dwyer.
"If it's good ground I'm fine with that, good or softer would be even better but if it went firm I wouldn't run him.
"The horse is fine, he's wintered well, he's in good form and Jimmy Quinn rides if he runs."
Mia's Boy enjoyed a superb first half to last year, winning five of his first six races before the handicapper finally got to grips with him and he was last seen down the field behind Tazeez in the Cambridgeshire.
Dream Lodge was ahead of Mia's Boy in ninth place that day and his trainer James Given is hoping the ground is not too soft for his hope, who broke the course record for Doncaster's mile course with a six-length victory in a conditions race last July.
"The Lincoln is the plan for Dream Lodge at the moment and he has done very well over the winter," said Given.
"He has been gelded since last year and he's a lot calmer in his work. I am very happy with him and I am looking forward to seeing him run.
"He ran well from a bad draw in the Cambridgeshire and I think he's a bit of a dark horse in the race.
"There will be a lot of horses that will have been laid out for Saturday, but I think that we go there with a decent chance, especially if the ground is not too soft."
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner JP McManus have teamed up to land many a win over jumps and are set for a rare foray on the level with Spectait.
The seven-year-old has thrived on the Polytrack over the winter with three victories in handicaps at Wolverhampton.
"We kept Spectait in the Lincoln and he will run as long as he gets into the race. If he gets eliminated, then he will take his chance in the Spring Mile," said the owner's racing manager Frank Berry.
"He's been in good form and he's won his three starts this year in good style. He's been improving throughout the winter and it will be interesting to see how he handles the good to soft ground on a return to turf."
Blythe Knight is reported to be in fine shape as he makes his fifth consecutive appearance in the mile feature.
Sixth in 2005, he won the race at Redcar in 2006, was ninth in 2007 and runner-up to Smokey Oakey 12 months ago.
"After the Lincoln, we'll go and try to win the Diomed Stakes again. He's a big price but he's in good nick and we know that he loves the track, but now we need a good draw," said trainer John Quinn.
"He's rated 108 now and not many horses win handicaps off that sort of mark, so we're thinking of claiming off him again, but we just haven't decided on who it will be.
"I know the stats are against him as no nine-year-old has ever won the race, but he is in really great nick."
