Ray hoping Santa comes early at Cambridge on Tuesday with strong team of seven

Lincoln Farms looks set for a big day at Cambridge on Christmas Eve, from The Big Lebowski in the feature race, the $25,000 Christmas Cup, to Colonel Lincoln in the lowest rated race.

Trainer Ray Green will line up seven starters at the twilight meeting, most of them well in the market, and says he’s reluctant to label one in particular on a programme where he’s looking for good results all round.

The Big Lebowski claims automatic $2.80 favouritism in the cup, given his R80 status against mostly far inferior rivals.

“He stands over them on class,” says Green. “You can’t fault what he’s doing and he’s a big winning chance, despite the 35 metre handicap.”

Green isn’t fazed by the back mark, pointing to the comparative weakness of the front line horses.

The Big Lebowski fights gamely in the Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup but is swished by the trailing Miki Shan.“He’s the only one on the mark too so he should step well and be the one to beat.”

Fresh from his excellent second to Miki Shan in the Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup, The Big Lebowski is having his first look at the Cambridge circuit but seven of his eight wins have been left-handed so Green isn’t expecting any unwanted surprises.

And, with a switch to removeable deafeners, from the fixed equivalent, Green says The Big Lebowski should get just the workout he needs to fit him perfectly for the $250,000 Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve.

Colonel Lincoln ($4.80), first cab off the rank in the second race, looks to have only one serious rival in last week’s all-the-way winner Messenger Buoy. But even though he has drawn outside that horse in six, Green expects an improved effort form his four-year-old.

“This looks a good race for him. We haven’t done anything with him since Thursday but, with natural improvement after such a long spell, he has to be the one to beat.”

Colonel Lincoln issued a strong home stretch challenge in his first start for nearly 21 months last week, just peaking on his run late behind Always B Charlie.

“He’s in the zone now and hopefully he can win as it’s a no penalty race for juniors.”

The stable’s Nathan Delany takes the reins, looking for his third win of the season.

Kevin Kline looks well placed in the sixth race from the pole.Early support for Debbie

Green looks to have a strong hand in the sixth race with Kevin Kline ($2.70 fav) and Debbie Lincoln, the medium of strong early support, in from $17 to $10.

For Kevin Kline, it’s a big drop in class from the line-up he took on last time at Auckland when a brave two-length fifth to Chase Me, Yourtheonethatiwant, Tyson and Confederate.

“He looks well placed and is definitely the one to beat on paper,” says Green.

“From the inside draw you’re obligated to leave, or risk being crossed, but he gets out okay.”

Debbie Lincoln might have finished only eighth in the same race last start but she got back in the running and was held up in the home straight.

“She’s improving dramatically all the time and I expect her to give them a fright.”

Onyx Shard ($4.60) looks to have the edge on Commander Lincoln ($8) in the fifth race.

“Onyx Shard should be dangerous from two,” says Green. “It was a good effort to sit parked last week and you’d expect natural improvement from that fresh-up run. She’s a pretty good filly.”

Commander Lincoln, drawn wider in five, had the advantage of “being hard fit” after a busy season capped by his win last week in the amateur race.

Lincoln La Moose ($19) is the longest in the betting, stepping up in grade to R47 to R55, compared with the R41 to R44 line-up he beat fresh-up last week in a sedate 2:47. “It wouldn’t have mattered what time they went, he was going to win, and there’s no reason he couldn’t do it again.”

Lincoln La Moose trailed Katies Princess last Thursday and, from two, is drawn to get another economical trip.

Race favourite The Surfer ($2.70), who was held up behind Fernetti last start, going to the line without the deafeners being pulled, gets Samantha Ottley this time, fresh from driving her 800th winner at Ashburton on Sunday. Ottley is chasing the seven wins she needs before the end of the year to become the first woman to drive 100 winners in a season.