Guest post by STEPHEN BOARDMAN ON FEBRUARY 24, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, there’s a good chance that the word “Lincoln” will be said a fair few times. The Steven Spielberg epic is nominated for 12 Academy Awards and is widely expected to do extremely well. On the same day, across the Atlantic in a town in South Yorkshire, it will be just under four weeks until a different type of event takes place.

There too the word “Lincoln” will be used. But this time the story will unfold on turf rather than on screen, although the plot and performance are likely to be just as enthralling and engaging as that of its blockbuster cousin. The flat season will be back…

Cutting through the middle of two fantastic jumps festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree, the Lincoln acts like Moses parting the Red Sea, leading to the Promised Land ahead where Royal, Glorious and Champion meetings lie in wait. If you are a fan of those who race on the level then this time of year is often one of the most exciting. The anticipation of what might unfold during the year gets the blood pumping that bit quicker. Will another superstar be unearthed? Will those talented two year olds come back just as good in their classic year? Who will come out on top in the jockeys’ title race? These and many other questions are on the lips of flat fans up and down the land and, while you are still contemplating the answers, you hit the ground running with the traditional curtain raiser on Town Moor.

The Lincoln meeting at Doncaster offers something for everyone and serves as the perfect selection of nibbles to whet the appetite for the feast of action ahead in the coming months. Familiar faces are greeted again after the winter hibernation and you can start to think about leaving your coat, jacket or scarf behind when you make your way to the course.

The race from which the meeting derives its name is often a fascinating puzzle to try and unravel. Invariably Messrs Gosden and Haggas throw their hats into the ring with a beast of untapped potential and it appears as though the tradition will live on this year as the entries show. The odds compilers have latched on quickly and the two heading the market at the moment, Lahaag and Nine Realms, represent those yards. It’s easy to envisage the latter being involved in the finish as he’s a lightly raced close relation to Aqlaam with bags of room for improvement. What I do find an interesting angle though is that, as well as Lahaag, Gosden has also entered Eshtibaak. Whether this is simply as a reserve for the seemingly first choice representative of the same owner only time will tell, but he stands out in his own right. He is another who hasn’t had much racing and the fact he’s been kept in training as a five year old and is yet to be gelded suggests his team are confident he’ll deliver this year. He was going the right way before looking mightily unlucky on the last two occasions he visited a racecourse and deserves more chances.

The beauty of a race like this is that it offers the chance for a whole host of opinions and selections. Wherever your analysis leads you, hunt around for the best value and enjoy the build-up to the race on March 23.

When the dust settles on Doncaster after that weekend, many a “four score and seven” will have no doubt been won and lost, but the first die will have been rolled for the game ahead. The flat season is a game that is exciting, frustrating and inspiring. It brings people together and creates powerful emotions. I encourage you to come racing, be that at your local track or further afield, and join the party.

Here comes the flat!

Stephen Boardman is the author of The Racing Guru and has ambitions to work in the racing industry.