Cheap buy Lincoln makes all in Sligo opener

Lincoln provided Denis Hogan with his seventh winner of the month, as he made all in the opener at Sligo, the O'Hehir's Bakery Claiming Race.

A five time winner when trained in the UK by Mick Channon, the son of Clodovil was bought by owner James McAuley for just 800 pounds at Goffs last October.

Seventh in a much stronger contest at Cork on his last start, the eight-year-old bay was expected to deliver this evening, going off the 11/10 favourite.

Sent straight to the front by Rory Cleary, he was pushed along a furlong and a half from home and kept on well from there to register a comfortable three and a quarter length success. T For Tango (11/4) finished second under Declan McDonogh for Richard O'Brien, while 66/1 chance Guiding Star was another three and three parts of a length back in third.

"It was straight-forward. He was the best horse in the race so I jumped and rode him like the best horse in the race," said Cleary.

"I got a grand easy lead in front and he picked up nice and smart when I went for him at the road. He put it to bed early.

"Hopefully he can go on and win a handicap next after that. That might just do his confidence the world of good."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson