THE rain returned with a vengeance and the going for the Betway Lincoln at Doncaster last Saturday became very testing indeed.

Several horses could not handle it but Secret Brief, one of the two Godolphin runners, stayed on gamely in the closing stages to wear down Bravo Zolo and score by a neck.

Battle Of Marathon and Birdman both kept on willingly to claim the minor places but Birdman’s stable-companion Lord Of The Land, loudly touted for several days but easy to back when the weather changed, was never in the hunt. At the end of a week when the powers that be at Godolphin made it clear that this will have to be a season of greater achievement, winning the first big handicap was a considerable boost, even if Group 1 success remains the obvious and all-important goal.

Secret Brief had been running well at Meydan, though he was only third when Udododontu finished second in February. Consequently it was no surprise that his travelling companion was backed down to 11/2 favourite last week but he made no show.

Drawn highest in stall 22, Secret Brief (12/1) tracked the nearside group and made his effort approaching the two-furlong marker. Ryan Moore was already stretching clear on Jeremy Noseda’s ultra-fit Bravo Zolo but William Buick sat down to ride a finish and gained the upper hand in the dying strides. The pair were drawn wide apart and there was no discernible advantage either way.

Secret Brief, a Shamardal gelding trained by Charlie Appleby, had not won since completing a hat-trick in 2014.

However, he can go on from this and may not find himself in handicaps for much longer. John Ferguson, who is giving up training jumpers to adopt a more ‘hands on’ role with Godolphin, was clearly very pleased.

“I was very impressed by the way he travelled in the race,” he said. “He is tough and genuine and stuck his neck out. We’ll have to see what the handicapper does and make a plan from there.”

Among those to take the eye before finding the demands too great in the final furlong were Man Of Harlech and You’re Fired. Both may well be placed to advantage on better ground in the near future.