On The Go Again a very popular winner of the Lincoln

Gary Carroll took the honours in the Tote Irish Lincolnshire (Premier Handicap) for the second year in succession as On The Go Again landed a gamble in the big one at Naas.

Carroll was aboard Brendan Brackan for Ger Lyons in 2017 but it was for Mick Mulvany that he steered On The Go Again.

A very useful hurdler too, On The Go Again is now after winning four in a row on the level as the 6/1 favourite (from 10s) stayed on too powerfully for his big field of rivals. Aussie Valentine is 2223 in the last four renewals of this contest. It was Saltonstall that gave On The Go Again most to do on this occasion though. A length and three parts split them at the line.

"He gets two mile (over hurdles) on goodish ground but just about on heavy ground and he has always shown plenty of speed," said Mulvany.

"I said to Gary 'what do you think about the Lincoln' and he said 'I'd love to ride him in it.'

"Then I had a work with Mark Bird (handicapper) and he said to me that he was one of the horses that he thought could win the Lincoln.

"We changed plans and kept him away from Cheltenham. We were ready for this race and I haven't even thought where we go after this but looking at that we'd probably have to go up into a Group race.

"The long range plan is that I'd like to go to the Galway Hurdle. He'll probably get a few spins on the Flat and then we might give him a little break around May all going well.

"We were second in a Group 2 before but that's the best race we've ever won."

C.D. Hayes, rider of Hit The Silk trained by P.J.F. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran keen.

(GC & EM)