Promising start for trainer O’Meara as he doubles up for fresh assault on the Lincoln

And now the Nawton handler intends to be double-handed in the William Hill Lincoln when he saddles both Penitent and Smarty Socks in Saturday’s prestigious handicap at Doncaster which will herald the start of the 2012 campaign on the level.

Yet O’Meara, a journeyman National Hunt jockey before making a successful switch to the training ranks two years ago, knows conditions will be crucial on Town Moor.

As his horses galloped under sun-kissed skies yesterday, O’Meara indicated that Smarty Socks will relish fast conditions in this one-mile speed test while Penitent – the 2010 Lincoln winner when landing a huge gamble for trainer William Haggas and jockey Johnny Murtagh – would prefer some cut in the ground.

That the battling Penitent was sent to O’Meara’s yard after being bought by Barton-on-Humber based Middleham Park Racing for 40,000 guineas at last autumn’s sales is indicative of the likable trainer’s burgeoning reputation.

However the horse will have to carry top weight after last year’s victor Sweet Lightning was withdrawn yesterday.

“The two horses are very different, Smarty loves firm ground while Penitent likes a bit of cut,” explained O’Meara.

“One’s a former winner while the other is at the top of his game and has to improve again. Penitent has been there and done it and has slipped down a bit.

“Smarty is a hold-up horse whereas Penitent sits handy. Smarty needs a strong-run race but he has won over a mile.

“He does have an issue sometimes of missing the break but he can cope with it. Smarty does like Doncaster. He’s won there a couple of times but has to raise his game again. He finished sixth in the Spring Mile last year and tends to get better as the summer goes on and the ground gets quicker.”

As for the former winner, O’Meara hopes the ground won’t be a factor. “Penitent has won a Listed race at Sandown on good ground so he doesn’t have to have it soft but I don’t think he’d run on good to firm,” he added.

With Silvestre de Sousa, runner-up in last year’s Flat title race, likely to be at the Dubai World Cup meeting for his new employers Godolphin, Danny Tudhope will have to choose between the two horses – the forecast weather will be a factor.

De Sousa’s unavailability is ironic as Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation is set to have its first ever runners in this race which dates back to 1865 and which was staged in Lincoln until switching to Doncaster in 1965 when its former venue closed.

It paves the way for Paul Hanagan, the dual champion jockey, to ride Start Right while William Buick, the St Leger-winning jockey, rides course specialist Man Of Action who will relish the conditions.

“Man Of Action is a course-and-distance winner and likes being held up for a late run off a fast pace but just needs things to go his own way,” said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

“Start Right has been freshened up since finishing third at Meydan last month and is going well.

“They are both fit after a winter campaign in Dubai, though neither managed to win, and arrived back in Britain on Sunday,” he added.

As for the rest of the season, Blue Bajan will reappear in the Yorkshire Cup at York on May 18 after being narrowly beaten by Duncan last year following one of the rides of the season by the aforementioned Buick.

“I wasn’t allowed to send Blue Bajan hurdling this winter, which is a shame given that he beat Champion Hurdle runner-up Overturn at Goodwood. He’d have been a bit of a snip in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham – he’s only rated in the 140s now,” said O’Meara who secured his first Group success when Blue Bajan won the Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

“To be fair, he’s broken down twice and the owners, the Hollowoods, daren’t risk him again.”

Meanwhile Pepper Lane, last year’s William Hill Great St Wilfrid winner at Ripon, could return to action in the Kilvington Stakes at Nottingham on May 12.

“When Pepper Lane arrived her rating was 56 and she’s now 102,” said O’Meara with regard to his stable stalwart’s improved form.

“She’s only a pony – she’s tiny – but she’s done really well. The big thing with her is to try and get some black type this season, obviously she’s a filly and will retire to stud at some point.”