ROGER Charlton has warned ante-post favourite Captain Cat would be doubtful for the William Hill Lincoln if Doncaster receives its expected rainfall.

The Beckhampton trainer has stressed good ground is crucial for the five-year-old, who has been the subject of sustained support for the feature on the first day of the Flat turf season.

Charlton tweeted: "Captain Cat declared for the Lincoln but he's unlikely to run should Doncaster get the rain that's forecast of 10mm and 20mm, good ground needed."

The going on Town Moor was described as "possibly on the quick side of good" by clerk of the course Roderick Duncan on Thursday morning, but rain was due to come in overnight.

He said: "We are good at the moment, possibly on the quick side of good, but there is a lot of rain forecast to come in tonight and the early hours of tomorrow morning.

"Unlike all the rain that came through the winter, this is coming from the east. We haven't got the Pennines to protect us so I'm fairly sure we are going to get some of it.

"We've been forecast six to 12 millimetres of rain today and six to eight tomorrow, but it's moving into the early hours of tomorrow morning now.

"Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be dry and warm and some wind, so I expect Sunday will have the best ground."

Captain Cat was handed stall 15 at the live draw on At The Races following the 48-hour final declaration stage.

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