The turn of the season saw a turn in focus in horse racing as the flat turf season got underway for the first time in 2023 with its traditional curtain raiser, the Lincoln Handicap Meeting. A two day event, the meeting holds plenty of prestige and history as the feature race has been held since 1853. Originally raced over two miles at the now defunct Lincoln racecourse. Moving to its current home in 1965, the handicap still pays tribute to its roots in the race title and provides the first leg of the "spring double" alongside the Grand National. 
Elsewhere on the card, there was plenty of quality on display with listed events over a mile and over six furlongs which provided an opportunity for high class sprinters to stretch their legs ahead of the long season ahead. Due to the competitive nature of the Lincoln, the entry numbers were high and it was great to see some familiar names present and healthy field sizes throughout the afternoon. The consolation Spring Mile also offers a similarly competitive and valuable prize for those rated not high enough for the feature event. First race on the card is the historic Brocklesby Stakes for unraced two-year-olds where anything could happen on track. A difficult puzzle to crack with so many unknowns and just the stable whispers to go on. The course had seen all types of weather this year along and the ground was riding on the slow side, officially described as soft, heavy in places. Stamina would be the name of the game here. 

Race One: The EBF Brocklesby Conditions Stakes - Class Two - Five Furlongs - 16 Ran
Winner: DODDIE'S IMPACT (Pearl Secret x Rock Cake) - B. Loughnane - R. Brisland - (#3)
The traditional juvenile sprint retained its pride and place as the first race of the new turf flat season. Sixteen unraced two year olds took to the racecourse for the very first time and confidence in the betting markets was a key clue to finding the potential winner. The conditions race is often used for the more precocious, speedier bred horses who are ready to rock and roll from the very start before the late blooming types take to the track later in the year. Last year, the race was won by the high class Persian Force, who looked head and shoulders above the rest as he won by six lengths and went on to compete at Group One level. 
The class of 2023 saw plenty of new names on the pedigree pages as first season sires such as Inns Of Court, Soldier's Call and Magna Grecia saw their first runners take to the track alongside well established sires such as Havana Grey, Starspangledbanner and Mehmas. Last year's winning owners Amo Racing held three entries at the five day stage but relied solely on Valadero, the most expensive yearling in the field, costing 250,000Euros at the sales. Other notable entries included Andrew Balding's newcomer Loaded Gun, a rare runner in the race for the leading stable, while the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate ran their newcomer, the Soldier's Call colt Indication Call.
Entering the final furlong, it seemed that the market had got it right as Valadero went clear under Kevin Stott whilst many displayed inexperience. The challengers came thick and fast however and it would be Robyn Brisland-trained Doddie's Impact who showed a smart finishing kick to get up close home. The colt was ridden by future superstar Billy Loughnane who has impressed the racing world in recent months for showing ability beyond his tender years. The seventeen year old only needed to push his mount out at the finish and it was the first of potentially many big race wins as he aims for the apprentices' championship this year. Catching the eye by staying on nicely into the placings were Charged Up and Alfa Whiteburd. The winner was also a poignant moment as he was named after the late Doddie Weir, a Scottish rugby legend who passed away recently due to Motor Neurone Disease, but inspired many in his fight and fundraising efforts. 

Race Two: The Spring Mile Handicap - Class Two - 1 Mile - 22 Ran
Winner: HARSWELL DUKE (Garswood x Graffiti) - J. Peate - R. Fell - (#13)
The first of the events over a mile saw the Spring Mile Handicap, the consolation race for the Lincoln Handicap. Open to horses rated between 80 and 96, the race is a parachute for horses who weren't rated high enough to make the main event. The race was well supported and many well known names returned to action, some for the first time this year with others arriving fit from a spell on the all-weather. Four-year-olds and five-year-olds dominated the recent winners table and those age groups were well represented at the top of the betting. They included Baltimore Boy, a lightly raced type for Michael Bell, The Gatekeeper who defied a long absence to win recently for Charlie Johnston and the consistent Tropez Power for John Quinn. 
From the older brigade, last year's winner Arthur's Realm returned with ground conditions to his liking, the quirky Dutch Decoy, veterans Broken Spear and Raising Sand while Zozimus looked an interesting recruit for the Horse Watchers and David O'Meara. The draw would provide clues for the Lincoln later in the day as it would provide evidence of which side holds the better ground. 
As it turned out, the action was spread out across the track, but it would be Harswell Duke who narrowly denied Titian in the centre of the course. Trained by the Nawton stable of Roger Fell, the five year-old had won on heavy ground twice last year so was at home with these conditions. Under a strong ride from the ever impressing Jonny Peate, the gelding landed the race by a neck with another half length back to Maysong in third. It would be another win on the day by a star apprentice from last year, this time in the form of Jonny Peate who is attached to the Roger Fell stable. This will potentially raise his value in a valuable handicap like this. 

Race Three: The Cammidge Trophy Stakes - Listed Race - 6 Furlongs - 10 Ran
Winner: VADREAM (Brazen Beau x Her Honour) - K. Shoemark - C. Fellowes - (#11)
The first pattern race of the 2023 turf season took place with this six furlong listed event which saw the return of Group class speedsters and hardy handicappers stepping up to the grade. Last year's running was won by the Keith Dalgleish-trained Volatile Analyst who was absent this year, but ten runners took to the start. 
There was a Royal runner in the form of King's Lynn, looking to keep up his good record at Doncaster. Likely favourite would be the Karl Burke-trained El Caballo who hadn't raced since Royal Ascot last year but was a winning machine in the early part of last season. The Middleham yard also saddled Fast Response who was hoping to complete a rare double of winning on the final day of the season last year and first day of this year's season.  
The race would be won emphatically by a mare returning to her very best as many of her rivals appeared to need the run on the testing ground. Vadream had won on her debut back in 2020 and was highly tried at Group level since. Despite not winning, she was capable of smart form on slower ground and it proved to be the case today. Running close to the early pace, she travelled well throughout the race. Kicking on inside the final furlong, the Charlie Fellowes-trained five-year-old bounded clear to win by over four lengths. Fresh from a stint on the all-weather, she was much fitter than her rivals but it was still an impressive victory. Fast Response chased in vain for second while Ehraz completed the placings in third.  

Race Four: The Lincoln Handicap - Class Two Heritage Handicap - 1 Mile - 22 Ran
Winner: MIGRATION (Alhabeyeb x Caribbean Ace) - B. De La Sayette - D. Menuisier - (#1)

The feature race of the meeting and the first major race on turf of the season. The historic Lincoln Handicap, worth £150,000 to the winner, has seen an upturn in quality of winners in recent years with Group perfomers Addeyyb, Penitent, Lord Glitters and Gabrial all winning or going close within the past decade. Newmarket trainers have taken a firm grip on the event as lightly raced, unexposed four-year-olds are selected to run in this heritage handicap. The stables of John Gosden, William Haggas and Charlie Appleby have all taken the prize back to Suffolk in recent times.
This year's renewal saw a full quota of twenty-two runners and a fiercely competitive race. No horse older than six had won this race in the past twenty years and that trend looked set to continue with the likes of Al Mubhir, Awaal, Wanees and Atrium all holding Group-race aspirations. Amongst those in opposition included the Cambridgeshire Handicap winner Majestic, the smart Migration and the John Quinn stable was doubly represented with Empirestateofmind and Safe Voyage. 
The field split into two groups which is customary for a race of this nature, but the larger group remained on the stands side. Heading into the heat of battle, many horses were in contention including favourite Awaal, Baradar and Majestic. On the running rail, a dream gap opened up for Migration to finish best of all. It would be a classy performance as the seven year-old broke the trend of recent years to win carrying top weight. Winning rider Benoit de la Sayette is no stranger to a big win as last year's champion apprentice. The Belgian-born youngster has won many plaudits in his short career and landed the 2021 running onboard Haqeeqy. Now back on top form after a drugs related ban, de la Sayette will be keen to impress further this year. 

Race Five: The Doncaster Mile Stakes - Listed Race - 1 mile - 6 Ran
Winner: ASTRAL BEAU (Brazen Beau x Asteroidea) - R. Hornby - P. Sly - (#7)
The action remained at the mile distance as the quality ramped up a notch with a listed race for four year olds and older. Won by Chindit last year, the race is favourable to former Lincoln Handicap winners. Penitent and Gabrial have landed both races. Back in 2004, a young Sublimity landed the mile race for Sir Michael Stoute before switching allegiances to hurdling and winning the 2007 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
2023's running saw a small but select field, with some connections perhaps put off by the testing ground at such an early point of the season. The unbeaten Poker Face was set to be a short priced favourite until he was a last minute withdrawal due to the ground. This left just six runners which included last year's runner-up Tempus. Tacarib Bay sidestepped the Lincoln for a tilt as this listed race instead for Richard Hannon and the formerly smart juvenile Imperial Fighter was looking to get his career back on track.

There would be a minor shock as outsider of the field Astral Beau took home some valuable black type for her future at stud. From the moment the gates opened, the sextet made a beeline for the stands side rail, feeling that the best ground was there. Tempus took the field along at a decent pace as Rob Hornby sat on the wing of the group without cover. Clearly relishing the conditions, Astral Beau pulled clear of some smart types to win by four lengths. It was a return to the big time for owner, breeder and trainer Pam Sly, a dual purpose handler who is best known for winning the 2006 1,000 Guineas with her homebred Speciosa. This listed race is a valuable prize to win with a filly who scored on her debut on this day twelve months ago and has developed into a smart filly on soft ground.