Doncaster Racecourse

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William Hill Lincoln
Saturday 22nd March 2008

Prize Boost for Consolation Race as William Hill Lincoln Hopes Displayed 19/03/08

William Hill, sponsors of the entire card at Doncaster on Saturday (March 22), today announced an increase in prize money for the consolation race for the £125,000 William Hill Lincoln, the William Hill Spring Mile, from £30,000 to £40,000.

Both the £40,000 William Hill Spring Mile (2.50pm) and the £125,000 William Hill Lincoln (4pm) will have maximum fields of 22.

David Hood, head of PR at William Hill, explained: “We are raising the value of the consolation race to £40,000 to encourage trainers of horses who do not make the cut for the William Hill Lincoln to run in it.

“When we met with Doncaster earlier in the year to talk about prize money, we raised the William Hill Lincoln to £125,000 from £100,000 and we considered putting more money into the William Hill Spring Mile.

“We decided not to then because we wanted to concentrate on the main race but given the way the handicap has panned out with so many of the good horses in danger of missing the cut and, taking into account the disparity in value between the two races, we are going to put another £10,000 into the William Hill Spring Mile.”

Adam Waterworth, managing director of Doncaster Racecourse, welcomed the additional prize money for the William Hill Spring Mile.

He said: “This will be the highest class William Hill Lincoln ever and it is fitting that the consolation race has been given a 25 per cent boost.”

On a media visit to Newmarket today, trainers William Haggas and Peter Chapple-Hyam spoke about their William Hill Lincoln hopes.

Haggas, twice a winner of the William Hill Lincoln with High Low in 1992 and Very Wise last year, was up on Warren Hill supervising his string this morning on his hack, the grey Sailor Jim who once finished second in the Topham Chase at Aintree.

Very Wise, going for the famous mile handicap again, cantered on the all-weather, while his other William Hill Lincoln hope Heaven Knows came up an adjoining grass canter.

Haggas commented: “Very Wise has done his final work already. Personally, I feel in these big handicaps you have got to be well handicapped - it does not matter how well you get your horse if he has too much weight.

“Also you need to be looking at a horse who has the potential to be placed in a Listed or Group race. All of those types seem likely to be in the consolation race on Saturday.

“When High Low won the Lincoln, he was rated 75 - you would not get in the consolation race now with that rating.

“The William Hill Lincoln seems to have lots of Very Wises in there so he might actually run OK. He is in good shape.”

Very Wise can have problems when loaded in the stalls.

His trainer continued: “The starters and I have a row all the time because he loads beautifully but then tends to get his head over into the next stall. He has done it twice.

“They know he loads and this is where the rules are too black and white. If they put him in right at the end and sent them off there would be no problem.

“Now last year in the Lincoln, I think he got drawn 16 and if you get drawn even you are among the last horses to go in. If he gets drawn even he should be fine, but odd numbers will not be so good.

“He nearly had his head chopped off in the William Hill Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton last year when he was favourite. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to him as he was pulled up on the turn and did not have a race. He also did it somewhere else last year - at York I think.

“Very Wise ran two bad races on the all-weather at the end of last season - he is like that, he can put in a dodgy race.”

Jimmy Fortune takes the ride on Very Wise, while Richard Hills will partner Heaven Knows for his retainer Hamdan Al Maktoum if the owner’s Zaahid, the 6/1 favourite with Hills, fails to get in. Otherwise Martin Dwyer will be on board Heaven Knows.

“Heaven Knows likes soft ground and he is a totally different horse since we castrated him during the winter. He has a lot to do but you never know.

“He wasn’t racing (properly) last year - he did not do anything early. This year he is much sharper and much more with it.

“I think a mile and a quarter is probably his best trip and, after he won at Newbury, he went for the November Handicap over 12 furlongs because he was on a roll and that was the most valuable race he could go for. He did not run badly to be sixth.

“His dam Rambling Rose won the 11-furlong Lancashire Oaks but she was by the sprinter Cadeaux Genereux. There is nothing we can do about it if he is not quick enough. Hopefully, it will pour with rain because he does like soft ground.”

Don’t Panic could represent Chapple-Hyam in the William Hill Lincoln on Saturday, though he may not get into the race.

The trainer, who paraded the four-year-old at St Gatien Stables in Newmarket, said: “Being a gelding he hasn’t quite come in his coat yet and he has had a little knock behind but that is nothing much.

“He is an honest genuine horse and better on soft ground. Let’s hope he gets in. If he doesn’t, I am not sure about the consolation race because he will have a big weight and if he won it would mess his whole season up. We will see with the extra prize money but I do want to run him in the Lincoln.

“He is very well. I thought he could be a Lincoln horse after he won at Goodwood last year. He went home afterwards as he always does and came back late so it has been a bit of rush to get him ready. But he is a ready enough now.”

Alan Munro is the jockey lined up for Don’t Panic who is a 14/1 shot with William Hill.

Blythe Knight - 20/1
© racing-images.co.uk

William Hill betting on the William Hill Lincoln:
6/1 Zaahid, 8/1 Lang Shining, Prince Forever, 11/1 Yeaman’s Hall, 12/1 Escape Route, Little White Lie, Smokey Oakey, 14/1 Very Wise, Atlantic Story, Don't Panic, Heaven Knows, Vitznau, European Dream, Rio Riva, 16/1 Plum Pudding, 20/1 Annemasse, Blythe Knight,, Fajr, Fremen, Raptor, Stevie Gee, 25/1 bar (Each way a quarter the odds 1,2,3,4)

WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN CONTENDERS

VERY WISE
6 b g Pursuit Of Love - With Care (Warning)
Form: 1/64044/0031/431P216030100- Trainer: William Haggas
Owner: John Greetham Breeder: John Greetham

Very Wise scored the biggest success of his career in last year’s renewal of the William Hill Lincoln which took place at Newcastle while Doncaster was being redeveloped. Ridden by Joe Fanning, the six-year-old gelding raced prominently throughout the famous mile contest and drew clear in the final furlong for a length victory over Rio Riva. It was a second William Hill Lincoln victory for William Haggas who also saddled High Low in 1992. Very Wise began his career with victory at 50/1 in a juvenile maiden at Yarmouth in October, 2004, and has enjoyed a total of five victories from 23 starts. His second triumph came on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton in December, 2006, and the following month he saw off Cusoon in a 10-furlong handicap at Lingfield on the same surface. After his William Hill Lincoln success, Very Wise scored once more during the 2007 campaign, winning a mile handicap at Newmarket on November 3 by a length and a quarter from Kinsya. Very Wise (9st) is currently a 14/1 chance with the race sponsors for the William Hill Lincoln which returns to Doncaster on Saturday, March 22.

HEAVEN KNOWS
5 ch g Halling (USA) - Rambling Rose (Cadeaux Genereux)
Form: 531/121/06416- Trainer: William Haggas
Owner: Hamdan Al Maktoum Breeder: Southcourt Stud

A half-brother to the top-class Notnowcato, conqueror of Derby winner Authorized in the 2007 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, Heaven Knows may not quite scale those heights but the lightly-raced five-year-old is a smart performer in his own right with four victories from 11 career starts. His most recent success came at Newbury in October when he landed a 10-furlong soft ground handicap under Richard Hills. He missed the first half of the 2007 season and 2006 saw him race only three times but with great effect, scoring over a mile at Thirsk and notching a 10-furlong win at Chester, with a runner-up finish sandwiched in between. Heaven Knows opened his account at the third attempt as a juvenile in 2005, winning a six-furlong maiden on the Wolverhampton Polytrack that November. Heaven Knows has 8st 8lb in the William Hill Lincoln and the sponsors make him a 14/1 shot.

DON’T PANIC
4 ch g Fath (USA) - Torrmana (IRE) (Ela-Mana-Mou)
Form: 4410/0063151- Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam
Owner: A B S Webb Breeder: Bernard Colclough

Don’t Panic ended last season with an impressive four-length triumph over Crocodile Bay at Goodwood on October 14. Partnered by Kerrin McEvoy, the Fath gelding turned the seemingly competitive16-runner mile handicap into a procession as, having made smooth progress from the rear of the field, he drew clear inside the final quarter mile. He relished the soft ground that day, but had previously prevailed over the same course and distance on good to firm going, suggesting that he is versatile with regards to underfoot conditions. Don’t Panic began his three-year-old career in the Listed Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket in April but was found wanting in seventh behind Petara Bay. He was subsequently dropped into handicap company and ran three times without success between May and July. A mid-season break seemed to reinvigorate him as he returned on September 4 for the first of his two Goodwood triumphs. Between those successes was a good fifth in a 16-runner Newbury handicap over seven furlongs. Don’t Panic had four starts as a juvenile in 2006. He finished fourth to Invincible Force in the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales race on only his second outing, before landing a Warwick maiden by five lengths. His final start of that campaign came in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket when he came home eighth of the 10 runners behind Thousand Words. Don’t Panic is due to carry 8st 6lb in the William Hill Lincoln and is priced at 14/1 by the sponsors.

THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN

The William Hill Lincoln, the first leg of the traditional Spring Double, kicks off the turf season in tremendous style. The famous race returns to its Doncaster home for the first time since Stream Of Gold scored in 2005, having been switched to Redcar (2006) and Newcastle (2007) while Town Moor underwent a fantastic £34-million redevelopment.

Class 2, Heritage Handicap, £125,000 Total Prize Fund. 4pm, Doncaster, Saturday, March 22, 2008. For four-year-olds & upwards, one mile (straight course). Entries closed January 8, entries revealed January 9 (114 entries), weights revealed January 23. Highest weight not less than 9st 10lb; minimum weight 7st 12lb. Penalties: after January 19, a winner 5lb. First forfeit stage January 29 (110 remained), second forfeit stage March 4 (98 remain), five-day confirmation stage March 17 (90 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, March 20. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Sunday, March 16. All-weather form in brackets. 22 runners maximum.

Form Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
110430- BLYTHE KNIGHT (IRE) 8-9-10 Maxilead Limited John Quinn
2(2)(3)(1)(3)-(1)(4)(0) FAJR (IRE) 6-9-07 The New Dawn Partnership Gay Kelleway
10/3- PRINCE FOREVER (IRE) 4-9-06 H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis
4(4)123/5- CLIPPERDOWN (IRE) 7-9-05 Travel Spot LLP Eddie Creighton
600460- MINE (IRE) 10-9-04 Mike Dawson James Bethell
611010-00 EUROPEAN DREAM (IRE) 5-9-03 You Trotters Richard Guest
5/403(3)(2)- RAPTOR (GER) 5-9-02 Mark Gittins Karl Burke
1/31-(4) CLASSIC PORT (FR) 4-9-02 Ashards Partnership John Ryan
010300- RIO RIVA 6-9-00 Rio Riva Partnership Julie Camacho
56050-(3)(0) AZAROLE (IRE) 7-9-00 Fitri Hay Jane Chapple-Hyam
2/150- YEAMAN'S HALL 4-9-00 George Strawbridge Andrew Balding
0301(0)(0)- VERY WISE 6-9-00 John Greetham William Haggas
40/1253-(6) LITTLE WHITE LIE (IRE) 4-8-13 Mrs L De Haast Ger Lyons IRE
0002(6)(0)- BABODANA 8-8-12 M P Bowring Mark Tompkins
251040- ANNEMASSE 4-8-11 M Wynne Richard Fahey
162442- VITZNAU (IRE) 4-8-11 Louis Stalder Richard Hannon
35//(2)/(2)(5)(1)- WATAMU (IRE) 7-8-11 R A Henley Peter Makin
15410-(0)40 FREMEN (USA) 8-8-10 Miss C King, Mrs A Seed, Finola Devaney David Nicholls
063451- SMOKEY OAKEY (IRE) 4-8-09 Judi Dench and Bryan Agar Mark Tompkins
000500- DHAULAR DHAR (IRE) 6-8-09 The Vital Sparks Jim Goldie
(1)/3(3)610-6(4)(0) ESCAPE ROUTE (USA) 4-8-09 H R H Princess Haya of Jordan John Gosden
00/00/10- TEMPLE PLACE (IRE) 7-8-08 Brendan Richardson and Jon Glews Donald McCain Jnr
1/06416- HEAVEN KNOWS 5-8-08 Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas
300030- MINORITY REPORT 8-8-08 Dandy Nicholls Racing Club David Nicholls
03R006- SKHILLING SPIRIT 5-8-07 I Hill David Barron
202500- WHITE DEER (USA) 4-8-07 Ian Bellamy David Nicholls
(1)(1)(3)3(0)-(4)(1)(0) SAMARINDA (USA) 5-8-07 (5lb ex) D Bayliss, T Davies, G Libson & P Sly Pam Sly
00033(5)-(1)(0) CAPABLE GUEST (IRE) 6-8-07 (5lb ex) John Guest Mick Channon
126013- ZAAHID (IRE) 4-8-06 Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills
0(1)(2)(5)-(4)(5)(4)(5)(0)(3) TROUBADOUR (IRE) 7-8-06 Dr J Walker William Jarvis
(1)110/(0)6-(6)(5) STEVIE GEE (IRE) 4-8-06 Steve Gray Alan Swinbank
063151- DON'T PANIC (IRE) 4-8-06 A B S Webb Peter Chapple-Hyam
6000(0)-(1) PARTNERS IN JAZZ (USA) 7-8-06 Sporting Occasions Racing No 2 David Barron
300000- ROYAL POWER (IRE) 5-8-06 David Nicholls David Nicholls
53(1)(2)1(2)-(0)(2)(4)(0) DREAM LODGE (IRE) 4-8-06 The G-Guck Group James Given
00/4000/- ANOTHER BOTTLE (IRE) 7-8-05 Sir Robert Ogden John Quinn
010400-(6) DANEHILLSUNDANCE (IRE) 4-8-05 J P Hardiman Stewart Parr
(1)(2)2(5)-(4)(1)(3)(2)(1) ELECTRIC WARRIOR (IRE) 5-8-05 (5lb ex) Market Avenue Racing Club Ltd Karl Burke
504264-(5)(5) YARQUS 5-8-04 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
000000-(5)(2) PLUM PUDDING (IRE) 5-8-03 Hyde Sporting Promotions Limited Richard Hannon
316500- BENANDONNER (USA) 5-8-03 J C Parsons & Sinead Parsons Richard Fahey
042030- MR AVIATOR (USA) 4-8-03 Sue Brendish Richard Hannon
211000- FORTUNATE ISLE (USA) 6-8-03 The First Team Richard Fahey
130040- ROYAL DIGNITARY (USA) 8-8-03 Middleham Park Racing XXXVI David Nicholls
3/126- LANG SHINING (IRE) 4-8-03 Ballymacoll Stud Sir Michael Stoute
054/320- MUTAWAFFER 7-8-02 P D Smith Holdings Ltd Richard Fahey
111122- ELLA WOODCOCK (IRE) 4-8-02 Derrick Mossop Eric Alston
1202(0)1- JEWELLED DAGGER (IRE) 4-8-01 A R M Galbraith Linda Perratt
000/100- TRAFALGAR SQUARE 6-8-01 Canisbay Bloodstock John Akehurst
003(6)(0)(1)- PELICAN WATERS (IRE) 4-8-01 Miceal M Sammon Ed Vaughan
(4)(4)(2)(5)(2)-(2)(6) ORCHARD SUPREME 5-8-01 Brian Oakley Richard Hannon
400640- REGAL PARADE 4-8-00 Dab Hand Racing David Nicholls
(4)(5)(1)(1)(1)(1)- HOH WOTANITE 5-8-00 The Three R's Reg Hollinshead
(3)(2)6(0)(1)-(1)(4) RED ROMEO 7-8-00 Six Pound Note Club Noel Wilson
001400-(0)(0) JAMIESON GOLD (IRE) 5-8-00 Peter Tsim Linda Perratt
000640- HEYWOOD 4-8-00 Martin Hignett David Nicholls
204000-(0) MOODY TUNES 5-7-13 Geoffrey Hamilton Karl Burke
212114- LAP OF HONOUR (IRE) 4-7-12 P & Mrs G A Clarke Jennie Candlish
(0)(4)(1)(1)(1)-(4)(4)(4)(1)(1) ATLANTIC STORY (USA) 6-7-11 (5lb ex) Matthew Green Mick Easterby
400051- KINGS POINT (IRE) 7-7-10 WRB 61 (The Clare King Syndicate) David Nicholls
3335(0)0-(0)(6) GRANSTON (IRE) 7-7-10 The Four Players Partnership James Bethell
211/- STRATH GALLANT 5-7-10 Paul Beck Richard Guest
001221- RED SOMERSET (USA) 5-7-10 Fieldspring Racing Ron Hodges
656110- MIDDLEMARCH (IRE) 8-7-09 W M Johnstone Jim Goldie
450P60- ZERO TOLERANCE (IRE) 8-7-08 The Hornsey Warriors Racing Syndicate David Barron
10/00(4)(0)- DANSKI 5-7-08 Camamile Hessert Scott Partnership Peter Makin
304/(1)(1)-(3)(3) DEN'S GIFT (IRE) 4-7-08 Mrs Olive Shaw Clive Cox
41(3)(0)/(0)0-(5)(0) FREELOADER (IRE) 8-7-08 Enda Hunston Richard Fahey
421223- CROCODILE BAY (IRE) 5-7-07 Ian Bishop David Nicholls
20/(1)(6)(1)0- MOUNT HERMON (IRE) 4-7-06 Wood Street Syndicate III Hughie Morrison
000206- MEZUZAH 8-7-06 Woodford Group Plc Mick Easterby
6/(3)616-(1)(1) MIA'S BOY 4-7-06 (5lb ex) Iraj Parvizi Chris Dwyer
00520(0)-(0) TRIMLESTOWN (IRE) 5-7-05 K Lee, Mrs R G Hillen & B Walsh Kevin Ryan
402030- SHOT TO FAME (USA) 9-7-05 Middleham Park Racing VII David Nicholls
21(6)66/-(3)(2)(0) CLARET AND AMBER 6-7-04 The Matthewman Partnership Richard Fahey
056202- PRINCE SAMOS (IRE) 6-7-03 Dian Plant David Nicholls
66320(3)-(4)(7)(2) LORD THEO 4-7-03 R D Hartshorn Nick Littmoden
00/2660-(5) DANCING LYRA 7-7-03 Aidan J Ryan Racing Richard Fahey
0210(1)0-(0)(0) RESPLENDENT NOVA 6-7-03 Resplendent Racing Limited Paul Howling
005(0)60-(1)(2) EXIT SMILING 6-7-03 (5lb ex) Peter Mee Paul Midgley
001206- TENCENDUR (IRE) 4-7-02 Mrs L Scaife, Mrs S Radford David Nicholls
(5)(6)/(5)(2)(4)0- BYRON BAY 6-7-01 James Kennerley & Jenny Hall Richard Guest
(2)(2)(1)01-(2) ANSELLS PRIDE (IRE) 5-7-00 Ansells of Watford Bryan Smart
33(5)(6)(4)-(2)(4)(2) INSIDE STORY (IRE) 6-7-00 Matthew Green Mick Easterby
(0)110(0)(4)- MOHEEBB (IRE) 4-7-00 Michael Hill Ruth Carr
061600- KABIS AMIGOS 6-6-13 Ian Glenton David Nicholls
153000- DARFOUR 4-6-11 J S Morrison Jim Goldie
0/26340- SILENT APPLAUSE 5-6-08 J P T Partnership Dr Jon Scargill
(5)(0)(0)(1)-(3)(0)(4)(5) ZABEEL HOUSE 5-6-04 Cricklewood Timber John Harris
(1)/0600(4)- MESSIAH GARVEY 4-6-01 Noel Martin David Nicholls

90 five-day confirmations
1 Irish-trained