A maximum field of 22 assembled for the opening day highlight of the 2025 turf flat season. For much of the week leading up to the race, it appeared that the Karl Burke-trained Thunder Run would start favourite. The four-year-old remained solid in the betting but was deposed at the top of the market by Midnight Gun. Going in the Wathnan Racing silks, the son of Kingman was the choice of James Doyle.
Irish raider Orandi came next for Tony Martin. Successful in the Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh earlier in the month, he would become the first horse to complete the English and Irish Lincoln double if successful.
Godwinson was the only other runner available at a single-figure price. Hailing from the yard of four-time Lincoln winner William Haggas, the Saxon Warrior gelding had the services of Cieren Fallon for the first time.
Looking further down the betting list, Oliver Show and Magnum Opus arrived with fitness on their side, having started their season early in Bahrain and Meydan, respectively. Others to note included defending champion Mr Professor, who attempted to follow up off a four-pound higher mark; 2023 Irish Lincoln winner Lattam, who finished second in the 2024 edition of this; and the unexposed Whip Cracker, who was well supported on the day.
Result
- 1st – Godwinson 15/2, Jockey: Cieren Fallon, Trainer: William Haggas
- 2nd – Oliver Show 22/1, Jockey: Billy Loughnane, Trainer: George Boughey
- 3rd – Orandi 13/2, Jockey: Rossa Ryan, Trainer: A J Martin
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £77,310
- 2nd – £26,255
- 3rd – £18,135
- 4th – £9,060
- 5th – £4,530
- 6th – £2,265
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £8.70
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.70, 2nd – £5.10, 3rd – £2.20
- Exacta – £278.50
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £179.93
- Trifecta – £2,684.50
- Tricast – £1,195.32
Recap
Seeing the field split into two or three groups when the stalls open is common in the Lincoln. However, that wasn’t the case in 2025, as those drawn low tracked over to form a single group towards the stand-side rail. Market principles Midnight Gun and Thunder Run began well to lead the field early, closely followed by Native Warrior and Orne, who raced extremely keenly. First and second in 2024, Mr Professor and Lattam gained nice positions just off the pace.
Approaching halfway, Thunder Run had lost his front-rank position, with fellow Wathnan Racing runner Native Warrior moving up alongside Thunder Run and Orne at the head of affairs. Whip Cracker travelled notably well towards the outside, as did Magnum Opus, but the Crisford’s runner would need luck from a mid-pack position. Godwinson and Oliver Show sat in the rear alongside Dashing Darcey, who began to struggle.
Native Warrior and Thunder Run began to increase the pace approaching the two-furlong pole, with Orne, Lattam, Whip Cracker, and Mr Professor failing to quicken with the leaders. However, there was no shortage of challengers emerging from further back. Orandi came with a sweeping run down the outside, whilst Magnum Opus weaved through runners to threaten. However, Oliver Show and Godwinson travelled best of all to scythe through the field from the back of the pack.
Orandi briefly led at the furlong pole, only to be immediately joined by Oliver Show, with that duo appearing to have the measure of Magnum Opus, who kept on in third. Oliver Show finally cracked Orandi inside the final 100 yards, but there, charging towards his inside, came Godwinson. It was impossible to tell who had prevailed as the duo crossed the line in unison. However, a photo finish revealed that Godwinson had got up to score by the minimum margin of a nose from Oliver Show, with Orandi a neck back in third.
William Haggas headed into the 2025 Lincoln level with Jack Robinson as the most successful trainer in the history of this contest. In winning the race for a fifth time, the Newmarket handler is now out on his own in front. Cieren Fallon’s first win in the race came 32 years after his father, Kieren Fallon, came home in front aboard High Premium.
Runners
- 1. Galeron – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Charles Hills, Jockey: Jason Watson
- 2. Sean – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Jamie Osborne, Jockey: William Carver
- 3. Midnight Gun – SP: 9/2F, Trainer: Hamad El Jehani, Jockey: James Doyle
- 4. Thunder Run – SP: 11/2, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
- 5. Two Tempting – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Jonathan Portman, Jockey: Rob Hornby
- 6. Apiarist – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Kevin Ryan, Jockey: Tom Eaves
- 7. Dual Identity – SP: 40/1, Trainer: William Knight, Jockey: Brandon Wilkie
- 8. Orne – SP: 40/1, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Luke Catton
- 9. Lattam – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Julie Camacho, Jockey: Ryan Sexton
- 10. Toimy Son – SP: 16/1, Trainer: David Menusier, Jockey: Warren Fentiman
- 11. Whip Cracker – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Richard Hughes, Jockey: Finley Marsh
- 12. Fantastic Fox – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Aidan Keeley
- 13. Mr Professor – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Raphael E Freire, Jockey: David Egan
- 14. Magnum Opus – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford, Jockey: Harry Davies
- 15. Oliver Show – SP: 22/1, Trainer: George Boughey, Jockey: Billy Loughnane
- 16. Gowinson – SP: 15/2, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Cieren Fallon
- 17. Alpha Crucis – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore, Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
- 18. Native Warrior – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- 19. Orandi – SP: 13/2, Trainer: A J Martin, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 20. Beringer – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Alan King, Jockey: Callum Shepherd
- 21. Dashing Darcey – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Geoffrey Harker, Jockey: David Allan
- 22. Old Cock – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Edward Bethell, Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Non-Runners
All Ran