Dream chases Lincoln honours
European Dream will run in Saturday’s William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster after a more unusual preparation than most.
A productive season on the level last year saw him rise nearly 30lb in the handicap before he had his attentions switched to hurdles.
Some consistent efforts followed with placings behind Ring The Boss, Five Dream and Mon Michel before a couple of runs at Nad Al Sheba recently.
“He’s been out in Dubai and he’s wintered very well out there,” said Mick Gorbin, from the Richard Guest yard.
“Because of the wet weather he had a long old Flat season so he didn’t really have a holiday.
“He goes better on the soft though so we took advantage of that and then went hurdling before Dubai.
“Having been to Dubai, it gives us a chance of having a go at a couple of valuable races in the spring.
“He ran extremely well over hurdles and we wanted to go for the County Hurdle but he missed the cut by one – that might be a blessing though.
“We are reliant on the weather and the draw but there does seem to be rain around.
“He won the Lincoln consolation race last year by six lengths and then won three more decent handicaps going up from 77 to 102, he deserved to though.”
Last year’s runner-up Rio Riva is in line for another crack at the race, according to trainer Julie Camacho.
“It suits Rio Riva to go to the race first time up. He is definitely better fresh and he went for the race first time out last year too. He seems to run his best races first time up, so that won’t be a worry,” said Camacho.
“He has run well at Doncaster in the past, so the course will suit. In an ideal world we would like the race to be run at Newcastle again because he won there last year after finishing second in the William Hill Lincoln at the course.
“The straight mile at Doncaster won’t be a problem though, and it is close to home.”
