THE Flat season burst into life at Doncaster last Saturday and the Richard Fahey-trained Gabrial, racing in the famous grey silks of Marwan Koukash, struck late to win the season's first big event, the Lincoln.

The winner was followed home by Mondialiste, Moohaarib, What About Carlo and the well-supported Mange All.

Koukash is a familiar sight in the winner's enclosure after big northern handicaps and was adding to his 2012 Lincoln with Brae Hill, also trained by Fahey, yet the winner was not overly strong in the market and went off 12-1.

Ridden by Tony Hamilton, Gabrial looked to have plenty of work to do going into the final couple furlongs as Mondialiste had broken away from the pack and taken a solid lead, but the winner wore down his challenger and took the lead close home.

"It was very tight in there about a furlong out and I didn't think he was getting a run," said Fahey. "Today was the first time I've seen him pin his ears back and battle. Some horses are good handicappers and can't make that step up to group level so we'll have to see with him."

Koukash said: "When you start racing you want to win the Lincoln, the Cesarewitch and the Chester Cup and when I met this guy [Fahey] I said to him is there any races you haven't won and he said the Lincoln. So I said to him let's win it together and now we have done it twice. He'll go for the Huxley Stakes at Chester next."

Today it's Championships Final Day at Lingfield and Karl Burke is hopeful Rivellino can improve on last year's third.

Rivellino booked his place in the line-up when getting the better of Glen Moss in a Listed Fast-Track Qualifier over the course on distance in February.

It was the five-year-old's first run since July and his trainer revealed that he had improved for the outing.

The Middleham trainer said: "Rivellino is in great condition going into Good Friday. He has improved for his run there last time and looks much stronger as well.

"We are a bit disappointed with the draw (11) as he was drawn out wide last year as well and came with a flying run. I think he could have won with a better draw and it might be the same story this time around.

"I think Pretend is potentially a big sprinting horse for Godolphin this year and he is the only horse I would be frightened of.

"Rivellino has improved a lot from last year and physically is a much stronger animal. He had a small operation to tidy a joint up at the end of last season and has moved a lot better since. I see him as potentially a very smart sprinter this year."

This time next week we will be looking ahead to the Grand National and Jonjo O'Neill accepts it will be "a tall order" for the dream result of the soon-to-retire Tony McCoy partnering Shutthefrontdoor to victory in his last ride in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

The Jackdaws Castle trainer's biggest challenge is to ensure last season's Irish Grand National winner gets to the Merseyside spectacular in one piece.

O'Neill reports Shutthefrontdoor in good order, having got over the setback that has kept him off the track since winning at Carlisle in November.

"Shutthefrontdoor is in great form and I'm very happy with him," he said.

"I would like to have got a run into him but he had an abscess around in his sinuses back in January and February which took a while to clear up.

"I would have liked to run him at Cheltenham but I decided not to as he was not as well as he is now and I didn't want him having a hard race, which it is easy to do at Cheltenham.

"He has schooled well and is spot-on for the race. He goes there fresh and well.

"He is better on a flat track and he loves good ground as he is a well balanced horse that's a great mover.

"I think AP (Tony McCoy) will probably ride him and the public will all be backing him looking for that fairytale story.

"We would all love it to happen, but it is a tall order."