Trainer Murtagh bags first Irish Lincoln

Johnny Murtagh bagged a first Paddy Power Irish Lincoln win as a trainer today, as his well backed Raadobarg (9/2f) landed the €100,000 Curragh handicap on debut run for the ex-jockey.

The four year old was a three-time winner for Roger Varian in England last year and today debuted for trainer Murtagh, on his first run since September.

Held up in rear in the 26-runner race, Raadobarg was mid-pack with two furlongs to race but under a fine ride from Ben Coen, weaved through to lead inside the final furlong, scoring readily from Comfort Line

It was Murtagh's first Irish Lincoln win as a trainer, but was assistant to Tommy Carmody when riding Sweet Lightning to victory in 2013, two months before assuming full training responsibilities.

Today Murtagh, who won the race four times as a jockey, reported “two weeks ago if you said would I get him ready, I thought he mightn’t get there.

“He’s a big horse and takes his work really well. His last two bits of work, he’s really tightened up — we had brought him to Walsh’s Hill (on the Curragh) where the ground was soft.”

He added “Ben said he travelled really nice through the race. He felt really good and quickened up well. It was only his last piece of work that I was pretty confident he was nearly there.

“He should improve a little bit fitness wise. I only have him about five or six weeks and he could be a Stakes horse in the making. He came in good shape and he’ll probably always want a little juice (in the ground). He’s got that big powerful action.

“Robson (Aguiar) is looking after all AMO’s horses with his team in Westmeath.

“Carrytheone (finished fifth) ran well with ten stone. He’s a horse that could go for the Royal Hunt Cup - the Australian crew (Any Excuse For A Holiday Syndicate) want to come back for Ascot.”

Kia Joorabchian's AMO Racing Limited had earlier won a maiden with the Michael O'Callaghan trained newcomer Malex

Quotes from Alan Magee