 |
 |
|
|
|
Racing News |
Tompkins Eyes William Hill Lincoln for Smokey and Devonshire
12/01/09
Entries for the 2009 renewal of the £125,000 Doncaster Lincoln close at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13 and Newmarket trainer Mark Tompkins is hoping that last year’s victor Smokey Oakey will line up at Doncaster on Saturday, March 28, to defend his crown.
 |
Smokey Oakey, who is owned by Dame Judi Dench and her chauffeur Bryan Agar, scored by a length and a quarter from the 2006 victor Blythe Knight in what was a high-class renewal of the William Hill Lincoln last season. It was an especially memorable day for Tompkins as he also saddled the third horse home, Babodana, who previously won the William Hill Lincoln in 2004. Both the winner and runner-up subsequently triumphed in Group Three company with Smokey Oakey taking the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown and Blythe Knight the Diomed Stakes at Epsom, while Babodana is now enjoying a career as a stallion in Somerset.
Tompkins, who spent his formative years in South Yorkshire, revealed today that the five-year-old Smokey Oakey was gelded at the end of last season and is in good heart as he attempts to make history by becoming the first dual winner of the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster. Babur (1957 &1958) and Obb (1906 & 1907) were successful when the race was run at Lincoln racecourse prior to its relocation to Town Moor in 1965.
The trainer reported: “I will be entering Smokey Oakey again in the hope that he can repeat last year’s success. He’s fine at present. I had him cut at the end of the season and gave him a little holiday up in Yorkshire. He’s back in now and has just started to trot - we’re getting him ready to canter so we’ll see if we can get him ready.”
Tompkins could also saddle the four-year-old Alan Devonshire who competed in Pattern company last term, including when 13th to New Approach in the Derby at Epsom.
He said: “I’ll enter Alan Devonshire as well. It’s the same story with him - he’s fine and we’ll try to get him ready.”
The William Hill Lincoln was first staged as the Lincolnshire Handicap at Lincoln Racecourse in 1853 when Caurire was successful at 5/2. The race is traditionally the first leg of the Spring Double, which also comprises the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.
The Peter Easterby-trained Old Tom won the first Lincoln to be staged at Doncaster in 1965. Scobie Breasley triumphed on the 22/1 shot and the jockey followed up 12 months later atop Riot Act.
The most successful current trainer in the William Hill Lincoln is Paul Cole. The master of Whatcombe has been successful with Kuala Lips (1997), John Ferneley (2000) and Nimello (2001).
Entries for the 2009 William Hill Lincoln will be revealed on Wednesday, January 14.
