Leading William Hill Lincoln contender Swop was amongst the horses viewed at a Press morning with trainer Luca Cumani today, as the handler talked through some of his hopes for the Flat season ahead.
The six-year-old, who has prospered on trips to Dubai this winter, is a 12/1 chance with the sponsors for the famous curtain-raiser to the Flat season, of which John Gosden's Expresso Star remains the 5/1 favourite.
Dane O'Neill will take the ride aboard Swop, who is on target for the William Hill Lincoln providing the going remains good.
The Bedford House trainer also showed-off crack filly Fantasia who remains a strong hope for Classic glory this season. The daughter of Sadler's Wells sits behind Rainbow View in both of the fillies' Classics, available as 8/1 third-favourite with William Hill for the Oaks, and 10/1 second-favourite for the 1000 Guineas.
Luca Cumani confirmed the filly will start the season in the seven-furlong Nell Gwyn at Newmarket before moving up in trip, and described her as a "good strong filly", drawing comparisons to his Irish 1000 Guineas winner Gossamer.
Italian Derby winner Cima de Triomphe will be amongst the older horses flying the flag for the Cumani yard this year. The grey colt, who finished 9th in the Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe, worked on the Newmarket gallops with fellow four-year-old Curtain Call this morning.
The yard's international raider Purple Moon may look to spring a surprise in next week's Dubai Sheema Classic. The globe-trotter will follow a mostly overseas campaign again this year, starting off his season at the September Goodwood meeting, leaving stablemate Bauer as the yard's main contender for Melbourne Cup glory.
The trainer also has hopes for an intriguing new recruit this season in the form of Greek import Ialysos. The recent arrival to the yard is unbeaten in all his starts and has been sent to Cumani for a challenging British campaign after proving a revelation overseas.
David Hood, spokesman for William Hill said, "An informative visit to a master trainer this morning revealed just how keenly heritage handicaps such as the William Hill Lincoln are targeted. It is probably one of the few major handicaps to elude the shrewd Mr Cumani and it could create an unusually early start to the Italian's assault on the bookies if Swop obliges next Saturday."
William Hill Lincoln: (sponsors bet) 5-1 Expresso Star, 10-1 Charm School, Fireside, 12-1 Huzzah, Mangham, Swop, 14-1 Don’t Panic, Flipdando, Zaahid, 16-1 Extraterrestrial, 20-1 Decameron, Spectait, Thebes, Titan Triumph, 25-1 Arabian Spirit, Benandonner, Bencoolen, Blythe Knight, Charlie Tipple, Cobo Bay, Docofthebay, Dunn'o, European Dream, Flowing Cape, Jack Junior, Lady Deauville, Manassas, Majuro, Mia's Boy, Pravda Street, Rock And Roll Kid, Royal Power, Smokey Oakey, The Osteopath, Whistledownwind, 33-1 Big Noise, Bolodenka, Dabbers Ridge, Dream Lodge, Eva’s Request, Flawed Genius, Invincible Force, Kavachi, Kings Point, Kingsdale Orion, Medici Pearl, Minority Report, Mister Ross, Nanton, Opus Maximus, Osteopathic Remedy, Philario, Slugger O'Toole, The Fifth Member, 40-1 BAR EW ¼ 1,2,3,4
Stan James 1000 Guineas: 7-4 Rainbow View, 6-1 Proportional, 8-1 Fantasia, 9-1 Serious Attitude, 12-1 Cuis Ghare, 14-1 Again, Shimah, 20-1 Pursuit of Glory, Sariska, 25-1 Chintz, Copperbeech, Maoineach, Summer Fete, 33-1 Apple Charlotte, Aspen Darlin, Damaniyant Girl, Devotee, Heart Shaped, Lahaleeb, Luminous Eyes, Peace Camp, Splashdown, Spy Eye, 40-1 Bar (Other On Request) (EW ¼ 1,2,3)
Juddmonte Oaks: 9-2 Rainbow View, 10-1 Fantasia, 12-1 Leocorno, Proportional, 14-1 Again, 16-1 Enticement, 20-1 Beauty Ogwaun, Dreamtheimpossible, Tanoura, 25-1 Mooakada, 33-1 Golden Stream, Others On Request - (E/W ¼ 1,2,3)