Friday 30 March 2012

Back For The Flat - Lincoln Review


Previous winner Penitent (image below) is a notable absentee at the declaration stage for the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.

The six-year-old's trainer David O'Meara said earlier in the week his charge was not a definite runner on Town Moor and is instead set for a trip to France to contest the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

O'Meara said: "He'll be declared for Saint-Cloud and, provided the ground is all right, he'll run there. We just thought it would be a big ask to run with top weight in the Lincoln."


The North Yorkshire handler is still represented in the Lincoln by Smarty Socks and added: "Smarty is in good shape and we're looking forward to seeing him run."

Ante-post favourite Eton Forever features among a maximum field of 22 runners. Roger Varian's five-year-old missed the cut for the traditional Flat season curtain-raiser 12 months ago, but bolted up in the consolation Spring Mile and has been strongly backed for his seasonal reappearance.

William Haggas saddled High Low (1992), Very Wise (2007) and Penitent (2010) to win the Lincoln and has a major contender in Fury, who was this time last year being prepared for the 2000 Guineas, in which he finished fifth.

Former John Oxx inmate Cocozza makes his debut for English-based Italian Marco Botti, while top-weight Edinburgh Knight is another leading player for Paul d'Arcy. Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is represented by Man Of Action and Start Right.

Mull Of Killough, Mia's Boy, Pintura and Stevie Thunder are also of interest.

The first two in the market were both handed single-figure draws, with Eton Forever in stall seven and Fury in stall nine. Also drawn low were Edinburgh Knight (stall two) and Stevie Thunder (stall four). Lowest of all in stall one is Askaud.

Smarty Socks is in stall 22 on the other side of the track, with Godolphin's Man Of Action (stall 20) and Start Right (stall 18) not too far away from him. Cocozza is also drawn high in stall 15, as is Mull Of Killough (21). Last year's runner-up Brae Hill is in stall 12, while bottom-weight Dubai Dynamo is berthed in gate 16, the stall of last year's Lincoln and Spring Mile winners.