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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 trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 2: Johnny Lincoln
5.39pm

“He didn’t do anything at Auckland last start but seems to go better left-handed and placed at Cambridge in his only start there.”

Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.39pm

“Her driver (Harrison Orange) said she would have won last start had that horse (Mr Miki) not stopped in her face. The winner was gone by the time she saw daylight. She will just need some luck from the second row draw.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.39pm

“He should have won last start at Auckland but we’ve taken the blinds off on Friday night and, in a weaker line-up, going left-handed, we’ll see how he goes.”

Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.37pm

“I think the race will be won or lost soon after the start. It’s out of our control, we just have to hope she gets a run through and then I’m sure she’ll be hard to beat.”

Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.40pm

“She’s got a little bit of lick but only has a short sprint, so timing is everything.”

Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.40pm

“Being put in the race from the start last time obviously took a bit of the sting out of him. But at least there’s no chance that will happen this time from the second row. In his previous races he’d ducked for cover and got sucked along but he needs a decent tempo, he’s no sit-sprinter.”

Whales Harness