Spring is in the air as the flat returns with the Lincoln

IT can’t be Easter already! Where does the time go? You work that hard the time just flies by.
Cheltenham 2008 has been and gone and by the smiles on local bookmakers’ faces it was not a good Festival for punters, except for the local girls in the chippy who caned McGranaghans for 12 big ones. or the North Belfast punter who took Sean Grahams for 16 big ones with a £6 bet last Thursday.
On Saturday we have the first part of what the older generation of punters call the ‘Spring Double” – the William Hill Lincoln, which returns to Doncaster this year and the other part of the double is the English Grand National.
Before you have a punt in this race check out the all-important draw.
his street and he is one to beat.
We have put up the John Gosden-trained Escape Route who gets a 14/1 pricing. He’s fit from a spell in Dubai where he ran some creditable races.
We have the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Sunday and hopefully we can follow up on last year when we gave out the winner, Butlers Cabin.
As we go to print Albertas Run is still an attended runner along with fellow Festival winner Old Benny.
Old Benny has more appeal and gets an 8/1 pricing. The trip will be right up his street and we think he can defy an eight-pound penalty after last week’s cosy win.