Deegan makes the Lincoln his own Paul Deegan saddled a famous one two as Chris Hayes doubled up at the Curragh, aboard Sruthan, who came home in front of his stable companion Aussie Valentine (2nd here last year too) in the Tote Irish Lincolnshire. Both Sruthan and Aussie Valentine are owned by Robert Ng and his victor travelled supremely well under Hayes. Half-an-hour earlier Hayes had been on the mark for his boss Kevin Prendergast aboard the impressive Awtaad in the 'Madrids.' Once the Limerick man shook up Sruthan around a furlong out, the outcome was soon put beyond doubt and he came home four and a quarter lengths ahead of Aussie Valentine. Richard Fahey's raider Gabrial's Kaka stayed on to be a head back in third. "It's been a lucky race for us and we won it a few years back with Big Robert," reflected Deegan. "Things didn't go right for Sruthan at the backend of last year. He had dropped down to a lovely mark so we had to go for it. It was a no brainer off that mark. "He's a good horse and a proper Group 3 performer. He did an outstanding piece of work last Tuesday. "Chris probably thought he was on the wrong horse but I insisted he ride him. It worked out and he would have shot me if I had been wrong. "Sruthan will I imagine go back to stakes level and we have options like the Gladness again. "The other fella ran his race again. He was unlucky last year as he was beaten by Mr Stack's horse (Onenightidreamed) who went on to beat Sruthan in a Group 3. So how well in was he then. "Many men spend their lives trying to win a race like the Lincoln, so it means a lot to win a race like this." The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Ashraf, trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race and to have gave a cough. P.J. Smullen, rider of Ashraf, trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never travelled . (GC & EM)
