The traditional curtain-raiser to the Flat turf season – the William Hill Lincoln Handicap – began to take shape on Wednesday as a field of 97 was revealed at the initial entry stage, with the race  sponsors installing Eton Forever as clear 10-1 market leader with William Hill.

The Roger Varian-trained five-year-old, winner of the William Hill Spring Mile in 2011,  tops the betting ahead of James Fanshawe’s Primaeval, runner-up in a competitive handicap at Meydan recently, at 11-1.

The Godolphin pairing of Man of Action, who beat the market leader over the Town Moor mile at the St Leger meeting in 2011, and Start Right, formerly trained by Luca Cumani, are joint-third favourites at 12-1.

Other notable contenders include the winners of the last two renewals, Penitent and Sweet Lightning, who are quoted at 16-1 with William Hill.

Richard Fahey has his usual battalion of runners, with seven entered for the Malton yard, while owner Dr Marwan Koukash is also well represented in the mile highlight – with a total of eight.

William Hill spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes said “With two previous winners, the reigning William Hill Spring Mile title-holder and two Godolphin entries all towards the head of the betting, not only does this year’s William Hill Lincoln have particular strength-in-depth, but also looks one of the most open affairs seen at the initial entry stage for several years”

William Hill Lincoln Handicap – all quoted: 10-1 Eton Forever, 11-1 Primaeval, 12-1 Man Of Action, Start Right, 14-1 Edinburgh Knight, Fury, Robemaker, 16-1 Sweet Lightning, Penitent, Hawkeyethenoo, Smarty Socks, Take It To The Max, Askaud, Mull Of Killough, Dubawi Sound, Voodoo Prince, Glor Na Mara, Font Of Wisdom, 20-1 Black Spirit, Pintura, Cocozza, King Of Jazz, Bonnie Brae, Clockmaster, Stevie Thunder, Don't Call Me, Brae Hill, Tullius, Chiswick Bey, Barren Brook, Kyllachy Star, Leviathan, Prime Exhibit, 25-1 Mia's Boy, Axiom, Cockney Class, Shavansky, Amitola, Kiwi Bay, The Tichborne, Weapon Of Choice, Crown Counsel, Kingscroft, Perfect Cracker, Redvers, Snow Bay, Arabian Star, Mont Ras, Reve De Nuit, First Post, Call To Reason, Cool Macavity, Captain Bertie, Lowther, Field Of Dream, Captain Ramius, 33-1 Rakaan, Light From Mars, Dunn'o, Hung Parliament, Dubai Dynamo, Prince Of Burma, Kinyras, Miami Gator, Kay Gee Be, Arabian Spirit, Pat's Legacy, Borug, Mullins Way, Shamdarley, Norse Blues, Tevez, Swiftly Done, Oriental Scot, Nice Style, Ashva, Lockantanks, The Rectifier, 40-1 Mawaakef, Magic Cat, Sam Sharp, Silvery Moon, Fantasy Gladiator, Zacynthus, Nazreef, I'm Super Too, 40-1 Tartan Trip, Silenceofthewind, Merchant Of Medici, Ted's Brother, 50-1 Georgebernardshaw, Dozy Joe, West End Lad, Silverware, Legal Legacy, My Kingdom, 100-1 Quite Sparky (EW ¼ 1,2,3,4)

Richard Fahey to train the winner of the William Hill Lincoln: 9-2

Dr Marwan Koukash-owned winner of the William Hill Lincoln: 6-1

Previous winner to win the William Hill Lincoln: 10-1