Doncaster Racecourse

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Brae Hill Hangs On for William Hill Lincoln Glory
31/03/12

1 Brae Hill 25/1
2 Mull Of Killough 10/1
3 Fury 8/1
4 Edinburgh Knight 11/1
22 ran Distances: shd, 1l, hd
TIME 1m 37.36s (fast by 1.14s)

Richard Fahey achieved a long-held ambition when finally landing the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster with Brae Hill.

Brae Hill
© Racehorse Photos

The Malton handler has had numerous horses placed in recent years, including Brae Hill 12 months ago, when he beat all bar Sweet Lightning.

Back to exactly the same handicap mark, despite subsequently winning the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, Brae Hill was providing Tony Hamilton with the biggest victory of his career.

Prominent throughout, Brae Hill (25-1) got a break on the field with over a furlong to run but Mull Of Killough, in rear early, flew home and closed to within a short head. Fury was third, with Edinburgh Knight fourth.

With Paul Hanagan now riding for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Hamilton may find himself in the spotlight more often this season - a situation Fahey is totally at ease with.

The trainer said: "I've wanted to win this race, but felt I was destined to never do it. I think I have had three seconds and plenty of others placed. He's very hairy and hasn't come in his coat, so when you hear trainers talking about that it just shows it's a load of rubbish.

"It's great for Tony, and I am lucky that I have got some very good jockeys. Tony will never let me down. Brae Hill is owned by (Dr) Marwan (Koukash), so all roads will lead to Chester."

Hamilton added: "He stuck his head down and galloped to the line. I did think I had won. It's the biggest race I've ever won. Marwan was keen on me to make it and there wasn't much pace early. It could not have worked out any better.

"I've been with Richard about 10 years, we've always got on, and with Paul getting the big job he's got I might get a few more opportunities, we'll have to see."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Brae Hill R A Fahey	T Hamilton 9st 1lbs	25 - 1 Winner
2	Mull Of Killough Jane Chapple-Hyam	S W Kelly 9st 2lbs	10 - 1 Short Head
3	Fury W J Haggas	Adam Beschizza 9st 4lbs	8 - 1 1 length
4	Edinburgh Knight P W D'Arcy	P J Smullen 9st 10lbs	11 - 1 Head
5	Eton Forever R Varian	N Callan 9st 9lbs	11 - 2 2 1/4 lengths
6	Askaud S Dixon	I Mongan 9st 3lbs	40 - 1 1 length
7	Barren Brook M W Easterby	James P Sullivan 8st 10lbs	20 - 1 Head
8	Stevie Thunder Ian Williams	Ryan Clark 9st 1lbs	16 - 1 1/2 length
9	Dubai Dynamo Mrs R Carr	Catherine Gannon 8st 10lbs	33 - 1 1 3/4 length
10	Man Of Action S bin Suroor	R Havlin 9st 7lbs	16 - 1 Head
11	Shavansky B R Millman	J Millman 8st 11lbs	25 - 1 1 length
12	Don't Call Me D Nicholls	P M Quinn 9st 1lbs	20 - 1 Short Head
13	Start Right S bin Suroor	Dane O'Neill 9st 7lbs	8 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
14	Pintura D M Simcock	J Fortune 9st 5lbs	22 - 1 3/4 length
15	Field Of Dream J A Osborne	P Makin 9st 6lbs	28 - 1 1 1/4 length
16	Clockmaker T D Easterby	D Allan 9st 2lbs	33 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
17	Amitola T D Barron	Lee Newman 8st 11lbs	50 - 1 3/4 length
18	Light From Mars J J Quinn	T Eaves 9st 1lbs	14 - 1 1 3/4 length
19	Smarty Socks D O'Meara	D Tudhope 9st 8lbs	20 - 1 3 3/4 lengths
20	Cocozza M Botti	J Fanning 9st 5lbs	14 - 1 1/2 length
21	Mia's Boy C A Dwyer	Raul Da Silva 9st 7lbs	14 - 1 5 lengths
22	Lowther D Nicholls	A Mullen 9st 3lbs	40 - 1 1 3/4 length

THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN FACTS AND FIGURES

* A race called the Lincolnshire Handicap was first run over two miles at Lincoln in August, 1849.

* In 1853, a new fixture was staged at Lincoln in February and featured a race called the Lincoln Spring Handicap, run over a mile and a half and won by Caurire. The distance of this contest was reduced to a mile in 1855 and moved to a date in March.

* In 1859, the two races merged to become the Lincolnshire Handicap, run over a mile in March.

* The Lincolnshire Handicap was run at Lincoln (AThe Carholme@) up to and including 1964. Following that course’s closure, the race moved to Doncaster in 1965 and was renamed the Lincoln Handicap.

* Along with the Grand National, the William Hill Lincoln forms the ASpring Double.@ Jockey Dave Dick achieved the unique distinction of winning both races - he scored in the Lincoln of 1941 on Gloaming, carrying just 7st 4lb and went to triumph in the ADevon Loch@ Grand National of 1956 on ESB, who shouldered 11st 3lb to victory.

* During World War II, three runnings were held at Pontefract (1943-1945). The 1916 renewal was at Lingfield, while there was no race in 1917 or 1918 due to World War I. Due to ,34 million redevelopment at Doncaster, the 2006 renewal was held at Redcar, while in 2007 the race was hosted by Newcastle. It returned to a revamped Doncaster in 2008.

* The dozen winners of the William Hill Lincoln between 1926 and 1937 (King Of Clubs (1926), Priory Park (1927), Dark Warrior (1928), Elton (1929), Leonidas II (1930), Knight Error (1931), Jerome Fandor (1932), Dorigen (1933), Play On (1934), Flamenco (1935), Overcoat (1936) and Marmaduke Jinks (1937)) gave their names to the horses used in the popular board game Totopoly.

* There have been only been two dual winners of the William Hill Lincoln - Ob (1906 & 1907) and Babur (1957 & 1958). No horse has managed to win more than once since the race was transferred to Town Moor.

* The biggest shocks came with the 100/1 shots King Of Clubs (1926), Elton (1929) and Jockey Treble (1947). Since it has been run at Doncaster, the biggest-price winner was the 50/1 shot Bronze Hill (1973) while there have been six 33/1 successes during the same period - Southwark Star (1975), Cuvee Charlie (1988), Evichstar (1990), Roving Minstrel (1995), Stone Ridge (1996) and Zucchero (2002).

* The shortest-price winner was Saucebox (1855, Evens). During its time at Doncaster, seven favourites have obliged - Riot Act (1966), Captains Wings (1978), Cataldi (1985), Right Wing (1999), John Ferneley (2000), Nimello (2001) and Stream Of Gold (2005).

* Since its transfer to Doncaster, the most successful trainer has been Paul Cole, with three wins (Kuala Lipis 1997, John Ferenely, 2000 and Nimello, 2001).

* No jockey has been able to win more than twice since 1965. Jimmy Fortune, Richard Quinn and Jimmy Quinn are the only current jockeys to have ridden two winners, joining Scobie Breasley, Sandy Barclay, Edward Hide and Greville Starkey. The Lincoln was one of the few races to elude Lester Piggott.

* Since 1965, Cataldi (1985) and Babodana (2004) share the honour of having carried the biggest weight to victory - 9st 10lb. The lowest winning weight during the same period was the 7st 3lb carried by Southwark Star (1975)