ANTE-POST favourite Captain Cat has been declared a non-runner for the William Hill Lincoln, said trainer Roger Charlton.

The Beckhampton handler had already issued concerns about the Doncaster ground for the five-year-old gelding, who has posted his best efforts on a sound surface.

With heavy overnight rainfall having turned the ground soft, Charlton's decision to take Captain Cat out of the race was straightforward.

He tweeted: "Captain Cat is now a definite non runner in the Lincoln tomorrow. After 18mm of rain the ground is now soft."

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