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Weights for the £100,000 William Hill Lincoln, the first major race of the Flat turf season which will be run over the straight mile at Doncaster on Saturday, March 31, are revealed today.
Trainer David O'Meara, who has made a very impressive start to his training career, could saddle Penitent (9st 8lb) and Smarty Socks (9st 2lb), who won two valuable handicaps at Doncaster and Ascot last season. The pair are both currently rated 16/1 chances with William Hill.
Penitent, successful in the William Hill Lincoln in 2010 when trained by William Haggas, was subsequently victorious in Listed company at Sandown and O'Meara is hopeful the six-year-old can bounce back to his best.
The Great Habton-based handler said: “Penitent was bought at the Newmarket sales at the end of October (for 40,000 guineas). He came to me and has had a break, but has been back in a work for about six weeks now.
“I don't know if he could win off his current mark (108), but he was rated 114 at one point, so we'll soon find out plenty about him in the William Hill Lincoln which will probably be his first run for us.
“Soft ground appears to be crucial to him, but I'm not sure if he will have a prep run as he didn't have one the year he won it, so he has shown he can go there and do it first time out.”
Of Smarty Socks, the trainer commented: “Smarty Socks has run over a mile plenty of times and he won over that distance at Southwell, but seven furlongs might just be his optimum trip.
“He seems to get better as the year goes on and he does like firm ground, but he ran well in the William Hill Spring Mile last year when he finished sixth.
“He's on a mark now where he can start competing in Listed and conditions races as well as handicaps. He does tend to need a good strong gallop and he comes good off a fast pace, so we'll keep him busy this year as he does enjoy his racing.”
Eton Forever, who is 10/1 favourite with race sponsor William Hill, has been allotted 9st 3lb, which guarantees him a place in the maximum field of 22. The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old took last season's William Hill Spring Mile.
The 2011 2000 Guineas fifth Fury could shoulder 8st 12lb as William Haggas chases his fourth Lincoln, while Cocozza, who could make his debut for Marco Botti since joining the Newmarket trainer from John Oxx, has been allotted 8st 13lb.
Primaeval (8st 6lb) could bid to give James Fanshawe his first Lincoln, while Edinburgh Knight (9st 4lb) will be having only his third start over a mile after winning a Listed race at Kempton on his final start last season.
Last season's William Hill Lincoln winner Sweet Lightning would carry top weight of 9st 10lb should he take his chance on March 31.
The two-day William Hill Lincoln Meeting takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1.
For further information and to book tickets please go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.ukLatest William Hill odds: 10/1 Eton Forever, 11/1 Fury, Primaeval, 12/1 Man Of Action, Start Right, 14/1 Edinburgh Knight, Robemaker, 16/1 Askaud, Cocozza, Dubawi Sound, Font Of Wisdom, Glor Na Mara, Hawkeyethenoo, Mull Of Killough, Penitent, Smarty Socks, Sweet Lightning, Take It To The Max, Voodoo Prince, 20/1 Barren Brook, Black Spirit, Bonnie Brae, Brae Hill, Chiswick Bey, Clockmaster, Don't Call Me, King Of Jazz, Kyllachy Star, Leviathan, Pintura, Prime Exhibit, Stevie Thunder, Tullius, 25/1 Amitola, Arabian Star, Axiom, Call To Reason, Captain Bertie, Captain Ramius, Cockney Class, Cool Macavity, Crown Counsel, Field of Dream, First Post, Kingscroft, Kiwi Bay, Lowther, Mia's Boy, Mont Ras, Perfect Cracker, Redvers, Reve du Nuit, Shavansky, Snow Bay, The Tichbone, Weapon of Choice, 33/1 Arabian Spirit, Ashva, Borug, Dubai Dynamo, Dunn'o, Hung Parliament, Kay Gee Be, Kinyras, Light From Mars, Lockantanks, Miami Gator, Mullins Way, Nice Style, Norse Blues, Oriental Scot, Pat's Legacy, Prince of Burma, Rakaan, Shamdarley, Swiftly Done, Tevez, The Rectifier, 40/1 Fantasy Gladiator, I'm Super Too, Magic Cat, Mawaakef, Nazreef, Sam Sharp, Silvery Moon, Tartan Trip, Zacynthus, 50/1 Georgebernhardshaw, Merchant of Medici, Silenceofthewind, Ted's Brother, 66/1 Dozy, Joe, Legal Legacy, My Kingdom, Silverware, West End Lad, Quite Sparky. (EW ¼ the odds - 1,2,3,4)