Eton Forever 10-1 favourite for Lincoln

ETON FOREVER, winner of last year's consolation race for the William Hill Lincoln, has been made favourite for the big Doncaster handicap after a total of 97 entries were revealed for the race on Wednesday.

Trainer Roger Varian saddled the five-year-old to win the Spring Mile and is preparing two challengers for the main event on March 31 with Dubawi Sound also in the reckoning.

Eton Forever has a good record on Town Moor with a win and a second from his two starts and has been made the 10-1 favourite by the sponsors.

Varian said: "Eton Forever has wintered very well and, although it is still very early days, he will be on a training schedule to get him to the Lincoln although a lot can happen in the meantime.  

"He ran two good races at Ascot but we came away from there, particularly after the Royal Hunt Cup where he was travelling very well two furlongs out, thinking that he didn't really get the trip over that stiff mile. We think an easy mile like the Doncaster mile or a stiff seven furlongs will be his ideal trip. 

"He is a very likeable horse, with good ability, and the type of horse who runs well fresh ."

Dubawi Sound was purchased by Pearl Bloodstock after winning his maiden at Newbury, but finishied a beaten favourite on his next two starts at Epsom and Newmarket.

Varian added: "We've entered Dubawi Sound, whether he gets in off his rating [88] is another matter, if not he could run in the consolation race."

Last year's winner Sweet Lightning has been entered in a bid to become the first dual winner of the race. His trainer Michael Dods said: "Sweet Lightning is in Dubai at the moment and is going to have one or maybe two runs out there leading up the William Hill Lincoln. We will take it from there.  

"The reality is that he is now rated significantly higher than he was last year (8lb more) so whether he can go there and carry that sort of weight in the Lincoln or not, I don't know.

"The plan will be for Johnny Murtagh to ride him again and similar ground to last year will be perfect."