The top six in the betting for the 2023 renewal of the Irish Lincoln Handicap are respectively drawn: 22,24, 21, 14, 27 and 30. Whilst one has to always be aware of the fact when looking at the stats that history merely conditions and neither predicts nor dictates, in the ten previous runnings of the race, if you had had a fancied runner and he was drawn in these stall positions, it would not have been propitious. Regardless, bookmakers frame the race, and punters, subject to confirmation and anchoring biases and herding instincts fall into line. For those of us prepared to take a more nuanced approach to the underlying conditions of the race, the 50/1 Celtic Crown (Betfair) represents outstanding value (six places with traditional bookmakers), following on from the draw. Were the field to decide to all come to the stand side, as they often do when the going is heavy at the Curragh, then those drawn high are likely to benefit. Saying that, it has been a very long time since a horse drawn above 25 has troubled the judge.