Fahey fires several darts at Lincoln

Richard Fahey is assembling a strong team for Saturday's William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster with Extraterrestrial, Albaqaa and Harrison George all heading for the Town Moor highlight.

Albaqaa and Extraterrestrial were third and fourth respectively in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton earlier in the month, while Harrison George is set for his first start since running at York in October.

‘It's going to be tough for Extraterrestrial off 100 and he has never won off 100 in his life, but I was pleased with his run at Wolverhampton the other day,’ said Fahey.

‘He is a horse who does his own thing and we're putting a claimer on him to take some weight off, so hopefully they get on well together.

‘He's run well there before and the more rain we get, the better for him. The rhythm of the race will suit him as well.

‘Albaqaa is in good order and I think Paul (Hanagan) will probably ride him.

‘We think he's probably a better horse over a mile and a quarter but the Lincoln is a race where you've got to get home, especially if it's soft ground.

‘The trip is the question mark over Harrison George so we'll just have to see with him.

‘He's never run over a mile before but he has gone very laid back, so hopefully he will stay.

‘We've also got Mister Hardy, Prime Exhibit and Irish Heartbeat entered but I don't think they'll get in.

‘Last year one came out and the year before two came out, so they're all going to struggle.

‘Of the three that will get in, I wouldn't like to be picking one out as they are probably three badly handicapped horses and we just hope they run well.’

Penitent carries William Haggas' hopes of a third success in the Lincoln after High Low (1992) and Very Wise (2007).

The four-year-old, the mount of Irish ace Johnny Murtagh, is ante-post favourite and has not been out of the first two in five career starts.

‘He's got a good profile. He's lightly-raced, he enjoys a bit of cut in the ground, he's an extremely genuine horse and he's a clean-winded horse. Those are good things in his favour,’ the Newmarket trainer told At The Races.

‘It's competitive, but he goes there with a chance.

‘We always felt he'd be better with a bit of ease in the ground. It's not going to be firm and it could be quite slow.

‘He stayed the mile well at Southwell last season and I think he'll get the trip no problem.

‘If you were to pick a horse for the Lincoln that was less exposed, he'd be high on the list.’

Connections of Huzzah are hoping for a kind draw as the five-year-old prepares to tackle the valuable prize for the second year in succession.

The Barry Hills inmate was beaten just over four lengths into fifth in the competitive handicap 12 months ago - from what turned out to be an unfavourable high stall.

Hills' son and assistant Charlie said: ‘He ran a very good race last year when he didn't have the best of draws.

‘He is 5lb lower this time and seems in very good form, so providing he gets a decent draw, he must go there with a decent chance.

‘He only needs a couple to come out to get a run so hopefully he'll make the cut.

‘If he doesn't, he'll probably wait for a race at Newbury.’