Quality Entry For William Hill Lincoln

A 123-strong entry has been received for the first major race of the 2006 Flat turf season, the #100,000 WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN, to be run this year at Redcar on Saturday, March 25, 2006.

The race has been transferred from its usual venue, Doncaster, due to redevelopment work and will be run over the straight mile at Redcar, where a safety limit of 30 will guarantee the largest field of runners for 38 years. William Hill have renewed their association with the Lincoln, following their previous sponsorship deal which lasted until 1997. This follows the takeover of previous sponsor Stanleybet by William Hill in 2005.

Last year´s race saw a most impressive display from Stream Of Gold, who bounded clear of 21 opponents to give both trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Robert Winston their first triumph in the famous contest.

The Newmarket handler will be hoping for further success ths year and could be represented by both Notnowcato and King´s Majesty, who sport a similar profile to Stream Of Gold, both being lightly-raced four-year-olds open to significant improvement.

Babodana collected the prize in 2004 for trainer Mark Tompkins, and he could be joined in this year´s renewal by stablemate Diamonds And Dust, while Barry Hills, successful in 2003 with Pablo, has Dabbers Ridge engaged this year.

The man to follow in recent times has been Paul Cole, with three winners in the past nine years, courtesy of Kuala Lipis (1997), John Ferneley (2000) and Nimello (2001). The Whatcombe trainer has just one entry this year in the shape of Putra Sas, a five-year-old son of Sri Pekan who won on the all-weather at Wolverhampton on January 6. Newmarket-based trainer John Berry looks to have a progressive performer on his hands in Benedict, a three-times winner last season, and the Benny The Dip gelding is being targeted at the valuable contest for his comeback run.

'Benedict has had a nice rest and only came back in last week, but he doesn´t need a lot of work and is an intended runner in the William Hill Lincoln,' Berry said.

'He´s a late developer but looks a much stronger horse this year and I think he will improve throughout the season - I´m hoping he´ll graduate to be Listed class.

'Although he goes on all ground he prefers some cut, and the straight mile at Redcar should be perfect for him.'

Kevin Ryan has the highest number of individual entries, and can choose from a team of eight consisting of My Paris, Kamanda Laugh, Cardinal Venture, Uhoomagoo, Josh, Divine Gift, Always Esteemed and High Dyke.

Other interesting entries include the Clive Brittain-trained Kandidate, who finished third behind Footstepsinthesand in last year´s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and Cesare, from the James Fanshawe stable, who won four times last season before finishing third in the totesport Mile at Goodwood, while the John Gosden pair of Jalamid and Stronghold showed decent handicap form during their three-year-old careers.

The last Irish-trained winner of the Lincoln was Dermot Weld´s Saving Mercy back in 1984, and this year´s challenge could feature the Tom Hogan-trained Common World, third in the race last year and subsequently successful in a Group Three contest over an extended mile in Germany, and Tommy Stack´s Tolpuddle, twice a Listed race winner over a mile on soft ground.

Those horses that are eliminated at the final declaration stage for the William Hill Lincoln will be eligible to run in the #25,000 William Hill Spring Mile, also run at Redcar on Saturday, March 25.

Ian Renton, Racing Director at Arena Leisure, commented: 'We are thrilled at the number of entries for the 2006 William Hill Lincoln, and it is pleasing to see that owners and trainers are giving the race its full support as it is transferred to Redcar for this season while Doncaster undergoes redevelopment. I would also like to offer sincere thanks to William Hill for generously supporting the contest.

'There are a number of interesting contenders among this year´s entry and everyone at Arena Leisure is looking forward to a real spectacle up the Redcar straight mile on March 25.'

Neil Etherington, Chief Executive of Redcar Racecourse, added: 'This is a singular opportunity for Redcar and is certainly galvanising local interest and enthusiasm - and we anticipate a bumper crowd.'

David Hood, William Hill´s Director of Racing, is also anticipating a cracking race: 'Even though the race has been relocated that bit further north in Redcar, rather than usual hosts Doncaster who are undergoing redevelopment, the entries are strong in both quality and quantity.

'The William Hill Lincoln at Redcar will still be run over a straight mile, plus there is the added attraction of a larger safety factor at Redcar (30) compared to Doncaster (24), meaning more owners and trainers will get the opportunity to run for the #100,000 showpiece and also the William Hill Spring Mile.

'This will be the largest field for a William Hill Lincoln in 38 years.'