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.

Decisions, Decisions?

David Pipe is due to decide on Monday whether he will pitch unbeaten novice Grands Crus into the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup or keep him to the novice category in the RSA Chase.

The seven-year-old has won each of his three starts this term, most recently when scoring an impressive victory in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas, and Pipe will consult with owners Roger Stanley and Yvonne Reynolds before selecting a target.

"We will make a decision on Monday. We will see how Kauto is - obviously he looked in fantastic form at Wincanton," Pipe told Channel 4's The Morning Line.

"It looks like he will be going for the Gold Cup, which is great for racing, but maybe not so good for us. I shall speak with the owners over the weekend and decide on Monday."

Grands Crus features among 19 left in the Gold Cup field at the six-day stage along with last year's winner Long Run, who is trained by Nicky Henderson.

Paintball...what a win!

Charlie Longsdon's most prolific season so far has now delivered a first major winner as a back-to-form Paintball ran away with the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.

After establishing himself among the most promising of the younger trainers, phase two of Longsdon's plan is to start achieving at the big meetings and with Paintball (20-1) now qualified for a £75,000 bonus if he makes the cut at Cheltenham next week, he has the chance of quickly ticking something else off the to-do list.

The Listed handicap hurdle had been on Paintball's agenda since he was given a breathing operation in December and after creeping along in mid-division for Noel Fehily, he hit the front at the last and steamed four and a half lengths clear of long-time leader Nampour.

"We had a nice winner in the Doncaster Sales bumper at Newbury last weekend but this betters it," said Longsdon, whose current total of 57 winners has easily exceeded his best from five previous seasons with a licence.

"We can go into Cheltenham with a smile on our faces now. We've had plenty of winners but we haven't had the big Saturday winners yet, so I'm delighted."

Cheltenham Update

Cheltenham will continue to water the chase and hurdles courses ahead of the opening day of the Festival on Tuesday.

With no rain in sight ahead of the four-day bonanza, officials are keeping the taps turned on to ensure the best possible conditions for jump racing's biggest meeting of the year.

"The going on the chase and hurdles courses is now good, good to soft in places, while on the cross-country course it is good to firm," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.

"With the current forecast still predicting dry conditions, I am pretty sure we will continue to water the chase and hurdles courses over the weekend."

Kauto Looking Good

Kauto Star virtually confirmed himself a starter in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after delighting connections in a gallop after racing at Wincanton.

The 12-year-old was described as "50-50" for the Festival showpiece last week after it emerged he had suffered a schooling fall at Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard, and the trainer was keen to see how he fared in a racecourse spin with stablemate Mon Parrain.

Regular rider Ruby Walsh was on hand to put him through his paces over two miles, while Daryl Jacob teamed up with Mon Parrain, and the pair were never asked a serious question as they enjoyed the workout, quickening the pace slightly in the straight as Kauto Star finished around a head in front.

Nicholls said: "I'm very, very pleased and Ruby said he could hardly hold him. I didn't want him to do too much but they quickened up a bit. If he's all right tomorrow and schools on Monday, then I'd say we're in business.

"Steps To Freedom and Oscars Well, in fine fettle" Jessica Harrington

Jessica Harrington reports her two big hopes on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, Steps To Freedom and Oscars Well, in fine fettle.

The County Kildare trainer took the pair to the Curragh for a racecourse workout on Tuesday.

Steps To Freedom, a leading fancy for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle that opens the meeting, jumped well in a schooling session.

"Steps To Freedom schooled around 12 hurdles at the Curragh this morning," Harrington tweeted.

"He was very good and all is on track for Cheltenham."

Oscars Well, her runner in the Stan James Champion Hurdle, also enjoyed a racecourse gallop.

Harrington added: "Oscars Well galloped today and was very good.

"All on course for Cheltenham."

Children's Heart Unit Fund Charity To benefit From Mr Wylie

One of owner Graham Wylie's two leading hopes for this year's John Smith's Grand National will be running in aid of the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

Wylie has deep personal ties with the charity as one of his twin daughters, Kiera, has undergone three live-saving operations at the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle since being born in December 2009. The owner is set to be represented by ante-post Grand National favourite Prince De Beauchene, as well as major contender On His Own, in this year's renewal of the world's most famous steeplechase.

Both horses are trained by Willie Mullins, and will still carry Wylie's black and beige silks, but one will be bidding to pick up some prize-money for the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

"One of the horses will be leased to a good friend of mine called Semore Kurdi for the day and will run in aid of the Children's Heart Unit Fund," said Wylie.


"The people at the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle have performed three operations on my daughter Kiera. She had to have open heart surgery soon after she was born and has had two operations since, but hopefully she will never have to have another heart operation again."

It is now up to Kurdi whether the charity will be represented by Prince De Beauchene, a runaway winner of the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last weekend, or Thyestes Chase scorer On His Own.