2026 Lincoln Handicap Trends

March 24, 2026
Andy Newton

Billed as the feature race on the first Saturday of the new British flat racing turf season, the Lincoln Handicap is run over a distance of 1m at Doncaster racecourse.

In recent years, the race has been dominated by horses aged 4 years-old, winning 11 of the last 22 renewals, while with FOUR wins in the last 17 runnings trainer William Haggas is one of the men to look out for.

Weight-carried has been a big trend in recent years with 20 of the last 22 winners carrying 9-4 or less, while 10 of the last 22 (45%) were officially rated between 95-100.

Despite, being a competitive handicap the favourites in the betting don’t have too bad a record either with 4 of the last 22 (18%) winning, but also note that 15 of the last 22 favourites were also unplaced - including the 2025 jolly Midnight Gun.

The 2026 Lincoln Handicap will be run on Saturday 28th March at 3:35pm.

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Lincoln Handicap Betting Trends

21/22 – Aged 6 or younger
20/22 – Carried 9-4 or less in weight
19/22 – Had won over at least 1m before
18/22 – Had won between 2-4 times before
17/22 – Having their first run of the flat season
15/22 – Drawn in stall 9 or higher
15/22 – Winning distance – 1 length or more
15/22 – Unplaced favourites
13/22 – Returned a double figure price in the betting
11/22 – Aged 4 years-old
10/22 – Officially rated between 95-100
10/22 – Placed first or second last time out
9/22 – Had raced at Doncaster before
8/22 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
8/22 – Won last time out
8/22 – Raced at either Newmarket or Lingfield last time out
6/22 – Placed horses from stall 12 (2 winners)
6/22 - Placed horses from stall 16 (1 winner)
4/22 – Winning favourites (1 in the last 11 runnings)
4/22 – Trained by William Haggas (5 in total)
2/22 – Trained by Richard Fahey
2/22 – Trained by Charlie Appleby
2/22 – Trained by John Quinn
2/22 - Trained by John Gosden
2/22 - Ridden by Benoit De La Sayette (2 of last 4)
2/22 – Ridden by James Doyle (2 of last 5)
1/22 - Irish-trained winners
11 of the last 15 winners carried between 9-0 and 9-4 in weight
Just 1 winner has carried 9-10 in the last 39 runnings
9 of the last 11 winners aged 4 or 5
Since 1988 only 2 winners aged 7+
The average winning SP in the last 22 runnings is 14/1
Just two 'back-to-back' winners in the past (Ob, 1906/07 & Babur 1957/58)

Lincoln Handicap Recent Winners

2025 - GODWINSON (15/2)
2024 - MR PROFESSOR (33/1)
2023 – MIGRATION (18/1)
2022 – JOHAN (28/1)
2021 - HAQEEQY (9/2)
2020 - No Race (Covid)
2019 – AUXERRE (5/2 fav)
2018 – ADDEYBB (5/1)
2017 – BRAVERY (20/1)
2016 – SECRET BRIEF (12/1)
2015 – GABRIAL (12/1)
2014 – OCEAN TEMPEST (33/1)
2013 – LEVITATE (20/1)
2012 – BRAE HILL (25/1)
2011 – SWEET LIGHTNING (16/1)
2010 – PENITENT (3/1 fav)
2009 – EXPRESSO STAR (10/3 fav)
2008 – SMOKEY OAKEY (10/1)
2007 – VERY WISE (9/1)
2006 – BLYTHE KNIGHT (22/1)
2005 – STREAM OF GOLD (5/1 fav)
2004 – BABODANA (20/1)
2003 - PABLO (5/1)