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Lenny’s no rock star but he’s drawn to tune them up at Cambridge on Friday night

From gate four, Vincent two-year-old Lenny Lincoln looks best of Lincoln Farms’ three runners at Cambridge on Friday night.

The improving gelding has finished second in two recent runs on the course, powering home from well back last start behind the well backed favourite The Surfer.

And trainer Ray Green says moving in two spots on the front row this week could be all Lenny needs to notch his first win.

Instead of having to go back and mount his challenge three wide, with only a little luck, driver Andre Poutama should be able to secure a trip handy to the pace.

Lenny Lincoln looks close to taking a trick. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lenny Lincoln looks close to taking a trick. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“He seems to like Cambridge and I can’t see why he won’t be hard to beat. On paper he looks the best of our lot.”

The only recent glitch in Lenny Lincoln’s immediate form line was a sixth, when he couldn’t make ground from the back on Duchess Megxit’s 55.5 last half at Auckland.

Green believes his other maiden, Obadiah Dragon, also has a strong chance earlier in the night when he will enjoy starting from two on the front row.

Drawn the second row at Manawatu on Monday, Obadiah Dragon became snookered three back on the markers and Poutama was in tight quarters trying to find room in the run home, finishing a close fourth, just a head and a nose from second.

“I thought it was a good run. Things just didn’t happen for him at the right time and he got out only late.

“From a decent draw he’ll have no excuses this time. I could see him getting a cheque.”

Conquer Clare hasn’t been so fortunate with the draw in the eighth race, landing the outside of the eight-horse field.

But the quality of opposition is well down on her last start at Auckland when 11th, but only 3.9 lengths from winner Kourtney Kardash.

The former southern mare was in heavy traffic turning in, speared through a gap halfway down, then came to the end of her run 50 metres out.

“She wasn’t spectacular but I thought she was OK,” Green said.

“She’s better suited here and is a very honest little mare who should go well but eight is a bad draw in any field and negates any enthusiasm.”

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Wednesday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Lincoln Maree
5.11pm

“She’s finding her feet and was a bit unlucky at Taupo. She put in a few rough ones out of the gate - she was like that early in her prep and could just jump out of it - but she’s generally doing things right now. She trained well on Saturday and, with the right run, could run top three.”

Race 3: The Night Fox
6pm

“He won really well on the second day at Hawera and if he races anything like he’s training he’ll be hard to beat. He ran a 27.3 quarter during the week and I was just sitting on him. I’ll tell Craig to go forward, set an even tempo and cut him loose at the 600. I think he’s our best of the night.”

Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.35pm

“Hopefully he’s improved since Taupo when Fergie drove him a treat in front. I actually think he’s better coming off something’s back but I’ll leave it up to Fergie. He’s up a bit in grade but has the right draw to be in it all the way.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.32pm

“He had an easy run last week and he can go a lot faster than that. He should be hard to beat. It won’t matter if he doesn’t find the lead from six, he’ll be just as effective coming from off the pace. He’s a pretty classy horse, classier than most of those against him.”

Race Images - Harness