YOU can see why the Lincoln is a Spring Cup influencer: both high-class all-aged handicaps (as long as you are four or older, it’s a strict policy) run over a straight mile in the early stages of the flat season, one three weeks after the other, which gives ample time for recovery.

Eye-catcher

Rogue Bear was the obvious eye-catcher from the Lincoln. He was drawn on the near side in stall 19, he missed the break and he was hampered at the start, with the result that he was stone last, 22 of 22, after they had gone a furlong, and he was still last at half-way.

In the meantime, the race was developing towards the far side, Saleyym led with Johan second and Irish Admiral third, all prominent, all racing from low draws.

Those three horses filled three of the first four places too in the end, Rogue Bear was the only one who was able to get in among them from the rear, and he finished off his race well to take third place from his high draw and his poor early position, in a race in which the pace held up well, a head in front of Irish Admiral.

But Rogue Bear has been well found in the market and, at almost twice his price, it might be worthwhile giving Modern News another chance.

Charlie Appleby’s horse has just a length and a half to find with Rogue Bear on their running in the Lincoln and, while he raced from a lowish draw, he raced in mid-division in among horses, and he just never got on terms.

In traffic

He wasn’t an unlucky loser or anything, he didn’t have his run obviously checked, but he was always among horses, he was always in traffic, he never really got into clear sailing, whereas Rogue Bear raced on the near side and got into the clear two furlongs out so that he could come with his run, unhindered.

That was just Modern News’ seventh run, and it was his first run over a mile. He was progressive last season, he ran three times, all races over seven furlongs, and he won all three times, leaving the impression that he would be better over a mile.

A staying-on third in a listed race in Dubai in February, also over seven furlongs, he kept on well at the end of the Lincoln too. A mile could be his optimum trip this season.

Charlie Appleby’s horses are in tremendous form now, he had five winners from nine runners at the Craven meeting during the week, and there is every chance that Modern News will step forward quite considerably from his Lincoln run, that he will progress for the experience of racing against hardened older handicappers.

Also, the excellent William Buick is back on board. There are lots of positives.

Fred Darling

There are lots of positives too about Nazanin in the Fred Darling Stakes. Archie Watson’s filly did really well to win the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr in September the last time we saw her.

She raced on the near side that day for her high draw, 11 of 14. She led the near-side group from early, and she had to do a lot of running on her own out in the centre of the course, so she did well to keep on as well as she did to just get up and beat Canonized by a short-head.

The three fillies who filled the next three places that day all raced on the far side from low draws, five, six and one respectively, with the first four clear. Also, runner-up Canonized came out and won a listed race at York next time.

That was just Nazanin’s fourth run. She won on her racecourse debut at Newbury on soft ground, so we know that she can operate at today’s track, and today’s good ground should suit her, more than the good to firm on which she was beaten in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot in July.

Wild Beauty sets a good standard, a Grade 1 winner at Woodbine and fifth in the Fillies’ Mile, and there are several largely unexposed fillies in there who could progress significantly this season, but Nazanin is one of those.

The step-up to seven furlongs is a step into the unknown, but her dam is a half-sister to Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House and she herself is a half-sister to Martineo, who has won over seven furlongs and over an extended mile.

Also, she raced over six furlongs last season as if she would get at least seven furlongs as a three-year-old.

We know that she can go well fresh, and Nazanin could out-run her odds by a fair way.

Recommended

Nazanin, 1 point win, 2.25 Newbury, 9/1 (generally)

Modern News, 1 point each-way, 3.35 Newbury, 6/1 (generally)