Ducks all in a row for consistent Lincoln Hanover at Otaki on Friday

Consistent galloper Lincoln Hanover is poised to finally shed his bridesmaid tag at Otaki on Friday.

The Showcasing five-year-old looks to have everything in his favour in the fourth race after racking up five runner-up slots and finishing further back than fourth only twice in his 12 starts.

Drawn perfectly in two and, crucially, with a run under his belt, Lincoln Hanover should be in the van throughout, an advantage at Otaki, and have the wood on his less experienced rivals at the finish.

Lincoln Hanover was having his first race for 10 months when he resumed at Wanganui on November 28 in slow 9 conditions, much worse than he prefers. Yet he still managed to finish just 1.8 lengths behind stablemate Chikira Lass who, ironically, took away a lot of his momentum when angling in front of him soon after straightening for home.

Lincoln Hanover trailed sixth on the fence that day but apprentice Sam O’Malley is expected to plant him right on the speed on Friday, from where he will be very hard to run down.

With the track a dead 5 this morning, and improving under a good forecast, he should strike perfect conditions.

Trainer Lisa Latta reports the horse has trained on well since his good fresh-up run: “I think he will be hard to beat in this field.”

Platinum Dubai scores on debut at Otaki, with the riderless Piaggio inside her. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Next best of the Lincoln Farms’ runners is expected to be Platinum Dubai who resumes in the third.

The Pride Of Dubai filly will race without blinkers after rider Leith Innes reported she travelled too keenly when fourth in her last start, a two-year-old stakes race at Trentham in January.

“She’s got a tricky draw, so she’ll have to get the jump, but she has good gate speed which we will use and go forward.

“At least we’re going to get a good track, which we know she likes, and she’s had two trials to prepare for this and has been working well.”

Platinum Dubai won her debut at Otaki in September, 2019 when she led all the way.