Penitent won’t be in Lincoln

TOP-weight and previous winner Penitent is a notable absentee at the declaration stage for the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster tomorrow.

The six-year-old’s trainer David O’Meara said earlier in the week his charge was not a definite runner on Town Moor and is instead set for a trip to France for the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud on Sunday. O’Meara said: “He’ll be declared for Saint-Cloud. We just thought it would be a big ask to run with top weight in the Lincoln.”

The North Yorkshire handler is still represented in the Lincoln by Smarty Socks.

Ante-post favourite Eton Forever features among a maximum field of 22. Roger Varian’s five-year-old missed the cut for the traditional Flat season curtain-raiser 12 months ago, but bolted up in the consolation Spring Mile and has been strongly backed for his reappearance.