It’s the start of the new flat turf season this weekend at Doncaster – with the William Hill Lincoln Handicap the traditional curtain-raiser contest.
As always, it’s a tricky race to unravel, with many horses having their first runs back for some time.
But there are some key Lincoln Handicap trends to help put history on your side and assist in whittling down the runners for this Saturday ITV Racing contest.
Horse racing expert Andy Newton gives you his 2026 William Hill Lincoln Handicap tips and 1-2-3 best bets – including a 14/1 ‘forgotten horse’.
Lincoln Handicap Tips: William Haggas Loves Targeting Top Doncaster Prize
No trainer has won the Lincoln Handicap more times than William Haggas, with five successes over the years and I think the top Newmarket handler can add to that in 2026.
The first Haggas win in the race came back in 1992 with High Low – with his most recent only 12 months ago with Godwinson (see below).
He could have a few in the race again in 2026, with Sea Force and ETERNAL FORCE both entered at this stage.
Both head here off the back of wins, but it the last-named that catches the eye – having, in fact, won his last three.
This trio of wins came last season on the turf at Redcar, Newbury and Haydock – with the last an impressive 3-length win in a Class 3 Handicap (see below).
5/1 for the Lincoln!
Eternal Force could give William Haggas a record-extending sixth victory in the season-opening feature at @DoncasterRaces this Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing (3.35)…
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 23, 2026
Eternal Force Raised 8lbs For Last Win
The handicapper reacted by hiking him up 8lbs, so there’s more on his plate here.
But the form of that win looks solid, with several horses in behind, including the 2nd Talis Evolvere and 3rd Zryan winning since.
The stats of the Lincoln also tell us that 20 or the last 22 winners carried 9-4 or less, so his weight (9-4) ticks this stat (just).
While 9 of the last 11 winners were aged 4 or 5, which is another positive for the Haggas 4yold.
Plus, we can also expect him to have improved more over the winter and with only seven career runs there should be more to come
Cieran Fallon, who steered home Godwinson for the yard 12 months ago, gets the leg up.
So, I’ll take Eternal to be another Haggas Lincoln ‘Force’ and give the trainer his sixth success in this big early-season handicap.
The Lost King Looks Over-Priced
Of the rest, the Andrew Balding yard continue to go well – and they run Lincoln Trial winner The Lost King.
This King Power-owned 4yold powered home at Wolves to win that race by 1 1/4 lengths and it was made to look better coming from stall 11.
He also had the Lincoln hot favourite La Botte back in 4th.
So even though that horse didn’t get the best of runs and is 4lbs better off – I’m not sure why there is around 10 points between the two in the betting.
The switch back to turf is fine, having won on the grass at Newmarket before.
While that Trial win form has also been franked with the second First Principle winning since.
Balding has never won the Lincoln and has ground to make up on Haggas, but of those at bigger prices – The Lost King could be the ‘forgotten’ horse in the race.
Pun intended!
The Lost King claims the crown in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap 👑#ITVRacing | @oismurphy | @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/1Q1Ozsluv6
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 7, 2026
La Botte Still Respected
Of the rest, despite being short – I do still respect La Botte.
His trainer Harry Eustace holds him in high regard and feels he won’t be in many more handicaps having to carry these big weights.
He was a close 2nd in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot (watch below) last season too, but it’s his burden (and no value price) that’s putting me off.
With Botanical, from the in-form Karl Burke yard, the other class angle into the race. However, also has 9-12 to lump.
As mentioned, 20 of the last 22 winners carried 9-4 or less, while in the last 39 runnings only ONE horse has won with 9-10 or more.
Yes, La Botte could easily be a Listed or Group performer in a handicap – but the stats also suggest he could just be weighted up to the tilt in a race that is nothing short of competitive.
40 #RoyalAscot wins for Saeed Bin Suroor!
ARABIAN STORY and @oismurphy land the Britannia Stakes for a @godolphin double on the day.pic.twitter.com/PgwZeDKSpC
— World Pool (@WorldPool) June 19, 2025
Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 Lincoln Handicap Tips
🥇ETERNAL FORCE
🥈THE LOST KING
🥉LA BOTTE
2026 Lincoln Handicap Date🗓️
📅Date: Saturday 28th March 2026
⌚Time: 3:35pm
🏇Racecourse: Doncaster
🔄Trip: 1m
💷Winning Purse: £77,310
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Sky Sports Racing
Lincoln Handicap Winners (Last 10 Runnings) 🏆
- 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)
WATCH: Godwinson Winning The 2025 Lincoln Handicap
