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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

Tuesday twilight at Cambridge

Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
4.53pm

“He’s drawn out a bit this week but I don’t think that will worry him too much. The driver’s pretty confident and we’ve got hopple shorteners on him to help him burn off the gate. Zac was pretty happy with his run last time. He only did what he needed to and there’s not much difference in the quality of the field. That one of Andre’s who beat him last time (St John Eight) is quite a nice horse who’d been racing well at Auckland.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Angelic Copy
6.09pm

Update: Scratched

“There is some doubt over whether she will start and we’re taking blood tomorrow morning to see how she is. We eliminated the tie-up problem but after she trained below par this week we took a blood and it showed she had a virus.”

Race 3: Lincoln Linda
6.09pm

“She’ll need a lot of luck from the outside of the second row. She was too fierce again last time, but I’m hoping the likely faster pace on Friday will suit her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lover
6.40pm

“Lincoln Lover isn’t training as well as Prince Lincoln but he has the inside draw to help him. And he’s a tough little bugger who’s not one to shirk his responsibilities.”

Race 4: Prince Lincoln
6.40pm

“If I had to choose between them I’d say Prince Lincoln is the better chance. He’s training very well and he’d be a chance of getting some of it with luck from his wide gate.”

Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.23pm

“I’m not holding my breath. He’s gone some handy races against the very best but he’s not in career best form. I’m just hoping the 2700 metres might suit him better. I think he might need a decent break.”

Race Images - Harness