Chapple-Hyam won’t Panic in bid for Lincoln

Mar 20 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

PETER CHAPPLE-HYAM expect Don’t Panic to go close in the William Hill Lincoln now that he has been gelded.

The four-year-old won twice at Goodwood in three starts last season and has been purposely targeted at Saturday’s one-mile contest, the traditional curtain-raiser for the start of the new Flat season.

Chapple-Hyam has a wonderful season last year with the highlight the Vodafone Derby success of Authorized last June. He is eyeing more Classic success this term with Winker Watson set to head straight for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas on May 3.

But first the Newmarket trainer will bid for Lincoln success, for which Don’t Panic is a best-priced 16-1 chance with totesport.

Chapple-Hyam said: “He is still improving and has been much better since we had him gelded,” he said.

“He is much better with soft ground so I hope he gets in and I do want to run him in the Lincoln.

“He went home at the end of last season and I have had to rush to get him ready but he is ready enough now.

“There is a little coughing in the yard but that always happens at this time of year. Most two-year-olds that come in cough but it is nothing to worry about and those who cough won’t run.

“Don’t Panic hasn’t coughed yet but if he does then he won’t run, but the Lincoln has been the plan since he won at Goodwood last year – whether he is good enough we will have to wait and see.

“He is a gelding so hasn’t quite come in his coat.”

Meanwhile William Haggas will be doubled-handed in the Lincoln including last year’s winner Very Wise.

The six-year-old was last on his two starts on the all-weather in November, but Haggas is happy with his charge following a work-out on Warren Hill in Newmarket yesterday morning.

Very Wise is a best-priced 16-1 with Coral, Stan James, BlueSquare, bet365, BetDirect and Better and Haggas said: “He won the race last year off 91 and he went on to win at Newmarket off 94. From a personal point of view I think you need to be well-handicapped for one of these big handicaps and I don’t think he can win off 100.

“In these sorts of races you have to have a horse who has the potential to be a Stakes horse and one who is up to Listed or Group class.

“Jimmy Fortune will ride Very Wise with Richard Hills on Heaven Knows – if Barry Hills’s Zaahid doesn’t get in. If Richard has to ride Zaahid then we will get Martin Dwyer.

“Heaven Knows will like the ground and he has been a totally different horse since we had him castrated during the winter.

“A mile and quarter may be his best trip but he wasn’t racing properly last year and is now much sharper, but if he isn’t quick enough for the Lincoln there is nothing we can do about it.”