Botti has Lincoln concerns

Marco Botti has warned the ground will need to dry up at Doncaster for Solar Deity to take his chance in Saturday's William Hill Lincoln.

Now moved into his purpose-built stables, Prestige Place on the Snailwell Road in Newmarket, Botti showed off the colt on Monday morning along with his other entry, Guest Of Honour, who is unlikely to make the cut.

Both have flourished throughout the testing winter, with Solar Deity winning four of his five all-weather starts including the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton earlier this month.

Meanwhile Guest Of Honour, who is also owned by Giuliano Manfredini, scored twice and finished a narrow second in the Lincoln Trial on the same card at Dunstall Park.

"Both would want good ground - maybe good to soft but not too soft," said Botti.

"I don't think Guest Of Honour will get in, so he will probably go for the consolation race instead.

"We knew last year that Solar Deity always ran well on the all-weather and after he won the Listed race, there's nothing left for him. He looks in fabulous order but he just wouldn't want the ground too soft."

The sponsors offer 16/1 for a Solar Deity victory at this stage.

So it was not wonderful news for the Italian to hear the current going conditions on Town Moor ahead of the start of the Turf season.

After rain over the weekend, Doncaster managing director Mark Spincer said: "This morning the ground was soft. There should be no further frost after Thursday but the forecast during the week is uncertain."

Set to revert from more illustrious company is Ed Vaughan's stable star Dance And Dance, who was unlucky in several renewals of the Woodbine Mile in Canada.

Now seven, he was back at Listed level on his latest start in early November, making little impression at Newmarket.

"We need to find out if he's a handicapper now, or whether he can go back to Listed races. He wouldn't want the ground too soft," Vaughan said.

Market leaders Nine Realms, Lahaag and Captain Bertie also stood their ground among the 71 remaining at the five-day stage.

Nine Realms has had just three lifetime starts for William Haggas while Lahaag has had four for John Gosden.

Captain Bertie finished fourth in the consolation race 12 months ago before winning the Spring Cup the following month for Charlie Hills.

Richard Fahey's Majestic Myles is currently top weight and the Malton trainer could also field last year's winner Brae Hill, Justonefortheroad and a newcomer to his yard Garde Cotiere.

Gladys' Gal, Chapter Seven, Hit The Jackpot and Swiftly Done are all still in the mix.