WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN ATTRACTS 118 ENTRIES AS BRITTAIN EYES FIRST VICTORY WITH NIDEEB

 

CHAPPLE-HYAM HOPES TO RETAIN PROGRESSIVE NORMAN ORPEN

 

The £100,000 William Hill Lincoln (3.05pm) at Doncaster on Saturday, April 2, the first major handicap of the Flat season, has attracted a fantastic 118-strong entry (up from 97 in 2010) that includes last year’s victor, the William Haggas-trained Penitent, who is 14/1 co-favourite with sponsor William Hill.

 

Also in the historic mile contest is dual-Listed winner Nideeb (25/1), who could bid to give veteran handler Clive Brittain a first success in the race.

 

In recent times, the William Hill Lincoln winner has often proved to be a cut above handicap class and Brittain feels that Nideeb fits that profile as he prepares him for a tilt at the first leg of the traditional Spring Double (the second leg is the John Smith’s Grand National over jumps at Aintree on April 9).

 

The Newmarket trainer revealed: “That would certainly be the case. We are very much hoping that Nideeb will be Group class in time.

 

“He has won at seven furlongs and he stays a mile and a half, so he’s a pretty scopey horse. Certainly, the good horses I’ve had from the family were good enough at a mile - they would stamp their class.”

 

A Listed winner at two, Nideeb is from the family of Brittain’s top-class charges Warrsan, Luso, Needle Gun and Cloud Castle. The colt made a belated three-year-old bow at Newmarket in August and landed the Listed Churchill Stakes over 10 furlongs on Lingfield’s Polytrack on November 20. 

 

Brittain continued: “He’s typical of the family - they progress as they get older - and I didn’t want to give him a hard early season last year. I thought that if he matured enough he could be in line for those good races in the Far East, so we nursed him through last year. The view was that this year could be a big one for him.

 

“As well as his William Hill Lincoln entry, he will also have a Winter Derby entry so that if Doncaster came up terribly heavy or whatever, then he would have another option.

 

”I haven’t won the William Hill Lincoln yet but then I haven’t had too many runners in the race - it certainly would be nice to win it. I haven’t won the Kentucky Derby yet either.”

 

Such is the competitive nature of the race that William Hill has nine co-favourites, the others being Brick Red, Eton Forever, Gunner Lindley, Irish Heartbeat, Kalk Bay and the John Gosden-trained trio of Doctor Crane, Nationalism and Taqleed. Gosden landed the William Hill Lincoln in 2009 with Expresso Star.

 

The William Hill Lincoln has a safety limit of 22 but those balloted out of the lucrative handicap can opt to contest the consolation race on the same card, the £40,000 William Hill Spring Mile, also over a mile with a limit of 22 runners.

 

Jane Chapple-Hyam has an exciting prospect in Norman Orpen (25/1) whom she hopes will still be in her care when this year’s William Hill Lincoln comes around. The improving four-year-old is three from three since joining the Newmarket trainer from Nick Littmoden’s yard in the autumn but could be heading to the Far East.

 

Norman Orpen is yet to finish out of the first three in seven starts and found the winning thread at the end of 2010 with handicap wins at Lingfield and Kempton (twice), rising from an official rating of 73 to 89.

 

The Orpen gelding’s Hong Kong-based owner Gordon Li is considering moving the horse to Macau or Hong Kong but Chapple-Hyam is hoping a buyer will be tempted to step in so that Norman Orpen can take his chance in the historic Doncaster handicap.

 

She revealed today: “I’m hoping Norman Orpen doesn’t go to Hong Kong or Macau, so I made the entry hoping that someone buys him and he stays with me in England. 

 

“He has worked well, he’s progressive and I can’t fault him because I’ve had three runs and three wins. It would be fantastic if I could keep him. I thought as a back-up in case he didn’t go abroad, at least I had him in a nice race at the start of the season as a fit horse.

 

“On his current rating, it would be touch and go whether he would make the William Hill Lincoln but he would then have a cracking shot at the consolation race. If someone purchased him he could certainly run between now and then and get a penalty to sneak in to the William Hill Lincoln that way.

 

“There’s nearly always a Group Three or very good Listed horse in there but Norman Orpen is a nice improving type, so he’s on the right lines if he does stay here.”

 

Weights for the William Hill Lincoln will be revealed on Wednesday, February 16.

 

Malton trainer Richard Fahey has the most entries with 15 engaged, while fellow North Yorkshire handler David Nicholls is responsible for nine entries.

 

Jennie Prest, sponsorship manager at William Hill, said: “Punters’ sights will soon be back on the level, looking to follow up last year's monumental gamble on the well-placed Penitent.

 

“The William Hill Lincoln has a history of young improving horses running well against the seasoned handicappers and we've gone 14/1 the field, with this year looking to be another ultra-competitive renewal.”

 

William Hill Lincoln Day on Saturday, April 2, also features the £30,000 Listed williamhill.com-Live Casino Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs and the £12,000 williamhill.com Play Poker Brocklesby Conditions Stakes for two-year-olds. Doncaster also stages a seven-race programme on Sunday, April 3, William Hill Doncaster Shield Day.

 

Opening Prices From William Hill: 14/1 Brick Red, Doctor Crane, Eton Forever, Gunner Lindley, Irish Heartbeat, Kalk Bay, Nationalism, Penitent, Taqleed, 16/1 Call To Reason, Dhaamer, Our Joe Mac, Prime Exhibit, Shamali, Suited And Booted, 20/1 Breakheart, Cockney Class, Dance And Dance, Dubai Hills, Light From Mars, Nazreef, Noguchi, Pintura, Pleasant Day, The Cheka, 25/1 Axiom, Brae Hill, Bravo Echo, Castles In The Air, Dream Lodge, Eton Rifles, Fareer, Fathsta, Final Drive, Fremont, Greyfriarschorista, Harrison George, Highland Knight, Justonefortheroad, Kay Gee Be, Kiwi Bay, Kyllachy Star, Linnens Star, Lowther, Manassas, Mass Rally, Navajo Chief, Nideeb, Norman Orpen, Rakaan, Sweet Lightning, 33/1  Academy Blues, Al Muheer, Beauchamp Viceroy, Big Creek, Blue Moon, Camerooney, Charlie Cool, Directorship, Docofthebay, Doctor Zhivago, Duster, Extraterrestrial, Hacienda, Iver Bridge Lad, Jo'burg, King of Windsor, Mata Keranjang, Medicinal Compound, Oriental Scot, Prince of Dance, Reve de Nuit, Satwa Laird, Signor Verdi, Sir George, Smarty Socks, Splendorinthegrass, Tartan Trip, The Fifth Member, Vainglory, 40/1 Abergavenny, Arabian Spirit, Avon River, Bencoolen, Buaiteoir, First Post, Georgebernardshaw, Good Again, Marajaa, South Cape, Tartan Gigha, The Osteopath, Uphold, Viva Vettori, 50/1 Ajdaad, Bawaardi, European Dream, Karaka Jack, Kilburn, Layline, Major Victory, 66/1 Champagne Style, Follow The Flag, Gala Casino Star, Lockantanks, Miami Gator, Mutamaleq, Ours, Steed, Sweet Child O'Mine, The Lock Master, 100/1 Avonrose, Frontline Girl,  Loyalty

 

THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN

Class 2, Heritage Handicap, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.05pm, Doncaster, Saturday, April 2, 2011. For four year olds and upwards, one mile (straight course). Entries closed February 8, entries revealed February 9 (118 entries), weights revealed February 16. Scratchings deleadline March 8, five-day confirmation stage March 28. Final declaration stage, Thursday, March 31. Safety limit of 22 runners, horses which are declared at the final declaration but eliminated are eligible to run in the William Hill Spring Mile, which is also run at Doncaster on Saturday, April 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, February 7.

 

Form  Horse    Age Owner     Trainer

260242- ABERGAVENNY  4 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison

25(5)040- ACADEMY BLUES (USA) 6 Bulldog Racing    David Nicholls

4/16(0)50- AJDAAD (USA)  4 Mrs Z Wentworth   Alan McCabe

000060- AL MUHEER (IRE)  6 Sprint King Racing (Antigua Cavaliers) David Nicholls

312363- ARABIAN SPIRIT  6 Timeform Betfair Racing Club Ltd Richard Fahey

0(6)(5)(2)-(0)(1) AVON RIVER   4 Jim Horgan    Richard Hannon

(4)(1)-(3)(3)(2)(3) AVONROSE   4 Moorland Racing   Derek Shaw

005100- AXIOM    7 Samanda Racing   Ed Walker

(3)(3)(4)(0)-(0)(2) BAWAARDI (IRE)  5 The Matthewman One Partnership Richard Fahey

(3)(2)(3)(0)(0)-(4) BEAUCHAMP VICEROY 7 Erik Penser    Gerard Butler

13-(0)(0)(6)(0) BENCOOLEN (IRE)  6 Eamon Maher    David Nicholls

0124-00 BIG CREEK (IRE)  4 Stan Moore    Stan Moore

3(2)(1)(1)-(0)(1) BLUE MOON   4 Guy Reed    Kevin Ryan

260030- BRAE HILL (IRE)  5 Dr Marwan Koukash   Richard Fahey

(0)0(6)(4)-(1)(1) BRAVO ECHO   5 Canisbay Bloodstock   Michael Attwater

122050- BREAKHEART (IRE)  4 Andrew Tinkler    Michael Dods

0(1)3101- BRICK RED   4 Brick Racing    Andrew Balding

(1)(4)-(2)(2)(1)(4) BUAITEOIR (FR)  5 Laurence Mann    Paul D'Arcy

2/143-  CALL TO REASON (IRE) 4 The Socrates Partnership  Jeremy Noseda

100530- CAMEROONEY  8 Jean Stapleton    Brian Ellison

310006- CASTLES IN THE AIR  6 Jim McGrath    Richard Fahey

2(2)1/06(0)- CHAMPAGNE STYLE (USA) 4 EERC     Richard Guest

004325- CHARLIE COOL  8 Middleham Park Racing XXIV  Ruth Carr

310036- COCKNEY CLASS (USA) 4 Roldvale Limited   Brian Meehan

(3)/120(6)1- DANCE AND DANCE (IRE) 5 Mohammed Rashid   Edward Vaughan

2(1)10-  DHAAMER (IRE)  4 Hamdan Al Maktoum   John Gosden

202304- DIRECTORSHIP  5 Mrs R Lyon, Mrs P Hayton, Patrick Chamings Patrick Chamings

515(5)(0)(2)- DOCOFTHEBAY (IRE)  7 Paul Dixon    David Nicholls

150(6)/41/- DOCTOR CRANE (USA) 5 Rachel Hood    John Gosden

(1)/(1)0300- DOCTOR ZHIVAGO  4 C Titcomb    David Nicholls

030(5)(5)(0)- DREAM LODGE (IRE)  7 Middleham Park Racing XLIX  David Nicholls

2(3)(1)-(1)(1)(1) DUBAI HILLS   5 Fiona Denniff    Bryan Smart

033(0)2(2)- DUSTER   4 M T Bevan    Hughie Morrison

6(1)25-  ETON FOREVER (IRE)  4 H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah  Michael Jarvis

006222- ETON RIFLES (IRE)  6 Transcend Bloodstock LLP  Howard Johnson

006/(0)0-(0) EUROPEAN DREAM (IRE) 8 You Trotters    Richard Fahey

000000- EXTRATERRESTRIAL  7 G J Paver    Richard Fahey

1/0106-0 FAREER   5 Hamdan Al Maktoum   Ed Dunlop

012221- FATHSTA (IRE)  6 Dr Marwan Koukash   David Simcock

(1)(3)(1)(1)(1)-(3) FINAL DRIVE (IRE)  5 Par 4 Racing    John Ryan

U12133- FIRST POST (IRE)  4 Llewelyn, Runeckles   Derek Haydn Jones

(2)(5)(3)-(1)(2)(0) FOLLOW THE FLAG (IRE) 7 S Gillen    Alan McCabe

1041/50- FREMONT (IRE)  4 Julie Wood    Richard Hannon

012156- FRONTLINE GIRL (IRE) 5 M A Roden    Elaine Burke

0(6)(0)(0)-(0)(0) GALA CASINO STAR (IRE) 6 The Friar Tuck Racing Club  Richard Fahey

45540-(6) GEORGEBERNARDSHAW (IRE) 6 Dr Marwan Koukash   David Simcock

465(0)-(2)(0) GOOD AGAIN   5 Future In Mind Partnership  Gerard Butler

30006-(0) GREYFRIARSCHORISTA 4 Greyfriars UK Ltd   Mark Johnston

264521- GUNNER LINDLEY (IRE) 4 P McNamara, Nick Browne, S Richards Barry Hills

104040- HACIENDA (IRE)  4 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

136010- HARRISON GEORGE (IRE) 6 P D Smith Holdings Ltd   Richard Fahey

(1)56365- HIGHLAND KNIGHT (IRE) 4 Jeff Smith    Andrew Balding

606153- IRISH HEARTBEAT (IRE) 6 Mark & George Leatham  Richard Fahey

32404(4)- IVER BRIDGE LAD  4 The Iver Lads    John Ryan

061020- JO'BURG (USA)  7 Richard Walker    Debbie Sanderson

021410- JUSTONEFORTHEROAD 5 The Pontoon Partnership  Richard Fahey

4113(1)- KALK BAY (IRE)  4 Bernard Kantor    William Haggas

6000(0)0- KARAKA JACK  4 David Nicholls    David Nicholls

310400- KAY GEE BE (IRE)  7 George & Mark Leatham  Richard Fahey

(6)(1)(0)-(1)(3)(3) KILBURN   7 Royal Windsor Racing Club  Alastair Lidderdale

2142(6)0- KING OF WINDSOR (IRE) 4 Jones, Healy, Whitehead & Mitchell Ralph Beckett

500100- KIWI BAY   6 Kiwi Racing    Michael Dods

142200- KYLLACHY STAR  5 Dr Marwan Koukash   Richard Fahey

(0)60(3)(0)-(3) LAYLINE (IRE)   4 Gay Kelleway    Gay Kelleway

036530- LIGHT FROM MARS  6 Dr Marwan Koukash   David Nicholls

331(5)54- LINNENS STAR (IRE)  4 D & J Newell    Ralph Beckett

(3)(2)(3)-(5)(2)(1) LOCKANTANKS  4 Dallas Racing    Michael Appleby

(4)(1)(4)(2)-(3)(2) LOWTHER   6 Exors of the late L J Barratt  Alan Bailey

0(4)(1)(2)(3)-(2) LOYALTY   4 Lyndsey Shaw    Derek Shaw

41(0)(6)(3)-0 MAJOR VICTORY (SAF) 4 H M K Al Mehairi   Gay Kelleway

423060- MANASSAS (IRE)  6 Rebecca Philipps   Brian Meehan

400000- MARAJAA (IRE)  9 John Jacques    Willie Musson

24(4)520- MASS RALLY (IRE)  4 Business Development Consultants Limited Michael Dods

024215- MATA KERANJANG (USA) 4 Fitri Hay    Paul Cole

21/2001- MEDICINAL COMPOUND 4 Hambleton Racing Ltd XIII  Kevin Ryan

10(2)(2)-(3)(4) MIAMI GATOR (IRE)  4 Elaine Burke    Elaine Burke

22202(0)- MUTAMALEQ (IRE)  4 Wold Construction Company  Ian McInnes

221100- NATIONALISM   4 George Strawbridge   John Gosden

410(0)-(0)2 NAVAJO CHIEF  4 Geoffrey Bishop   Alan Jarvis

60(1)3(1)(1)- NAZREEF   4 Deborah Collett & M Watson  Hughie Morrison

563(1)(1)(2)- NIDEEB   4 Saeed Manana    Clive Brittain

01060(1)- NOGUCHI (IRE)  6 The Honorable Earle I Mack  Jeremy Noseda

(3)(2)(2)(1)(1)(1)- NORMAN ORPEN (IRE) 4 Gordon Li    Jane Chapple-Hyam

(5)/10310- ORIENTAL SCOT  4 Dr Jim Walker    William Jarvis

240144- OUR JOE MAC (IRE)  4 A Long     Richard Fahey

554(4)-(1)(2) OURS (IRE)   8 Peter Smith P C Coaches Limited John Harris

(2)/10125- PENITENT   5 Cheveley Park Stud   William Haggas

313312- PINTURA   4 Dr Marwan Koukash   David Simcock

12/6000- PLEASANT DAY (IRE)  4 J C Parsons & J J Gilmartin  Richard Fahey

00(1)006- PRIME EXHIBIT  6 Dab Hand Racing   Richard Fahey

006050- PRINCE OF DANCE  5 David Storey    Tom Tate

20122-(4) RAKAAN (IRE)   4 David Dixon    Jamie Osborne

3400-(1)(0) REVE DE NUIT (USA)  5 Z Wentworth    Alan McCabe

0525(4)0- SATWA LAIRD   5 The Lamprell Partnership  Ed Dunlop

0311/64- SHAMALI   6 Abdulla Al Khalifa   William Haggas

(1)00215- SIGNOR VERDI  4 Sheila Tucker    Brian Meehan

424125- SIR GEORGE (IRE)  6 Venture Racing & Partners  Ollie Pears

115260- SMARTY SOCKS (IRE) 7 R Fell & K Everitt   David O'Meara

663621- SOUTH CAPE   8 Heart of the South Racing  Gary Moore

2130/(1)0- SPLENDORINTHEGRASS (IRE) 5 Bjorn Nielsen    David Lanigan

03(0)(1)-(1)(1) STEED    4 Mrs J Ryan    Kevin Ryan

4/(2)1211- SUITED AND BOOTED (IRE) 4 R Morecombe & D Anderson  Richard Hannon

2661(0)(5)- SWEET CHILD O'MINE 4 EERC     Richard Guest

50120-(0) SWEET LIGHTNING  6 Andrew Tinkler    Michael Dods

0/116-  TAQLEED (IRE)  4 Hamdan Al Maktoum   John Gosden

000000- TARTAN GIGHA (IRE)  6 Exors of the Late Mrs Isobel Bird Mark Johnston

(2)1(2)0(5)6- TARTAN TRIP   4 Kingsclere Racing Club   Andrew Balding

54602(5)- THE CHEKA (IRE)  5 Anthony Pye-Jeary & Mel Smith  Eve Johnson Houghton

(2)(0)/021(6)- THE FIFTH MEMBER (IRE) 7 Epsom Equine Spa Partnership  Jim Boyle

(5)(3)(2)-(2)(1)(1) THE LOCK MASTER (IRE) 4 K G Kitchen    Michael Appleby

0/00200- THE OSTEOPATH (IRE) 8 Kevin Kirkup    Michael Dods

0/1100- UPHOLD   4 Jamie Osborne    Jamie Osborne

355200- VAINGLORY (USA)  7 David Simcock    David Simcock

(5)5003(6)- VIVA VETTORI   7 Mike Watson    David Elsworth

003000- WANNABE KING  5 Saif Ali & Saeed Altayer   David Lanigan

0022(1)(0)- WEST END LAD  8 K Nicholls    Roy Bowring

2/(1)2(6)- XILERATOR (IRE)  4 J Law     David Nicholls

46(1)(5)-(1)(5) ZEBRANO   5 Caloona Racing   Andrew Haynes

 

118 entries

 

 

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN

 

15 Entries

Richard Fahey

Arabian Spirit

Bawaardi

Brae Hill

Castles In The Air

European Dream

Extraterrestrial

Gala Casino Star

Harrison George

Irish Heartbeat

Justonefortheroad

Kay Gee Bee

Kyllachy

Our Joe Mac

Pleasant Day

Prime Exhibit

 

9 Entries

David Nicholls

Academy Blues

Al Muheer

Bencoolen

Docofthebay

Doctor Zhivago

Dream Lodge

Karaka Jack

Light From Mars

Xilerator

 

5 Entries

Michael Dods

Breakheart

Kiwi Bay

Mass Rally

Sweet Lightning

The Osteopath

 

4 Entries

John Gosden

(2009 Expresso Star)

Dhaamer

Doctor Crane

Nationalism

Taqleed

 

David Simcock

Fathsta

Georgebernardshaw

Pintura

Vainglory

 

3 Entries

Andrew Balding

Brick Red

Highland Knight

Tartan Knight

 

William Haggas

(2010 Penitent, 2007 Very Wise, 1992 High Low)

Kalk Bay

Penitent

Shamali

 

Richard Hannon

(1996 Stone Ridge)

Avon River

Fremont

Suited And Booted

 

Mark Johnston

Greyfriarschorista

Hacienda

Tartan Gigha

 

Alan McCabe

Ajdaad

Follow The Flag

Reve De Nuit

 

Brian Meehan

Cockney Class

Manassas

Signor Verdi

 

Kevin Ryan

Blue Moon

Medicinal Compound

Steed

 

2 Entries

Michael Appleby

Lockantanks

The Lock Master

 

Ralph Beckett

King Of Windsor

Linnens Star

 

Elaine Burke

Frontline Girl

Miami Gator

 

Gerard Butler

Beauchamp Viceroy

Good Again

 

Ed Dunlop

Fareer

Satwa Laird

 

Brian Ellison

Abergavenny

Camerooney

 

Richard Guest

Champagne Style

Sweet Child O’Mine

 

Gay Kelleway

Layline

Major Victory

 

David Lanigan

Spledorinthegrass

Wannabe King

 

Hughie Morrison

Duster

Nazreef

 

Jeremy Noseda

Call To Reason

Noguchi

 

Jamie Osborne

Rakaan

Uphold

 

John Ryan

Final Drive

Iver Bridge Lad

 

Derek Shaw

Avonrose

Loyalty

 

1 Entry

Paul D’Arcy

Buaiteoir

 

Michael Attwater

Brave Echo

 

Alan Bailey

Lowther

 

Roy Bowring

West End Lad

 

Jim Boyle

The Fifth Member

 

Clive Brittain

Nideeb

 

Ruth Carr

Charlie Cool

 

Patrick Chamings

Directorship

 

Jane Chapple-Hyam

Norman Orpen

 

Paul Cole

(2001 Nimello, John Ferenely, Kuala Lipis)

Mata Keranjang

 

David Elsworth

(1983 Mighty Fly)

Viva Vettori

John Harris

Ours

 

Derek Haydn Jones

First Post

 

Andy Haynes

Zebrano

 

Barry Hills

(2003 Pablo)

Gunner Lindley

 

Alan Jarvis

Navajo Chief

 

Michael Jarvis

Eton Forever

 

William Jarvis

Oriental Scot

 

Eve Johnson Houghton

The Cheka

 

Howard Johnson

Eton Rifles

 

Alastair Lidderdale

Kilburn

 

Ian McInnes

Mutamaleq

 

Willie Musson

Marajaa

 

David O’Meara

Smarty Socks

 

Gary Moore

South Cape

 

Stan Moore

Big Creek

 

Ollie Pears

Sir George

 

Debbie Sanderson

Jo’burg

 

Bryan Smart

Dubai Hills

 

Tom Tate

Prince Of Dance

 

Ed Vaughan

Dance And Dance

 

Ed Walker

Axiom