Nimello wins the Lincoln

Nimello goes clear of the chasing pack at Doncaster

Lincoln Handicap, Doncaster (1545 GMT)

1 Nimello 9-2f, 2 Highland Reel 9-1, 3 King Priam 20-1, 4 Mastermind 14-1.

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Favourite Nimello won the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday.

The five-year-old gave trainer Paul Cole his third win in the first big race of the Flat turf season.

Nimello, a 9-2 favourite, proved the low draw was important by gaining the triumph from stall one.

As the big field approached the final furlong of the straight mile race in soft going, Jimmy Fortune looked comfortable aboard the favourite.

Highland Reel, drawn six, was two lengths behind in second, ahead of King Priam (stall two) another four lengths back.

He's always had a touch of class

  Delighted Nimello trainer Paul Cole

Mastermind, who finished fourth, was drawn in stall four.

The all-important draw was made on Thursday by former England football boss Kevin Keegan.

Stalls with a low number had held the advantage in recent runnings of the race.

Cole had sent out Kuala Lipis to score in 1997 and John Ferneley 12 months ago.

And Nimello has shown an improvement since being gelded.

Fortune added: "The horse was cantering throughout the race and it was just a matter of finding something to give him a lead - he's a nice horse."