'A stakes horse in the making' - impressive Raadobarg sweeps to success

Saturday: Curragh

Johnny Murtagh recorded his first Irish Lincolnshire success as a trainer when the ex-Roger Varian-trained Raadobarg put up a most impressive performance in victory under Ben Coen, and it would seem that handicaps will now not figure large in the winner's future.

Held up off the pace and trusting a little to luck, the son of Night Of Thunder was sent for a narrow enough gap between horses entering the final furlong, but the turn of foot he showed was irresistible as he forged clear in a few strides to score by a couple of lengths from the always-prominent Comfort Line, concluding an excellent day for owners Amo Racing, who had earlier landed the colts' maiden with the Michael O'Callaghan-trained newcomer Malex.

Raadobarg won his first three starts last year for Newmarket trainer Varian, including the Silver Bowl at Haydock, before finishing a respectable eighth on quick ground in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, which was a fair effort given Murtagh opined afterwards that he is a horse who needs some ease.

He said: "He has only been with me about six weeks and if you asked me two weeks ago if I would have him ready, I wouldn't have thought so.

"He's a big horse and takes his work well, and he has really tightened up in his last two pieces of work when we took him up to Walsh's Hill where the ground was soft. It wasn't until his last piece of work that I felt we were nearly there."

Murtagh added: "Ben said the he travelled really well through the race, he felt really good and quickened up well. He should improve a bit fitness wise and he could be a stakes horse in the making.

"Robson Aguiar looks after all Amo's horses and he has done a good job on him – he came to me in good shape. All of his form has been rock-solid and he has always probably wanted a little bit of juice.

"He could go up through the ranks now – seven furlongs or a mile is good. We'll sit down now and have a chat to see where we go next."

The winner's stable companion Carrytheone carried 10st to finish a very respectable fifth under Shane Kelly. "There is not much between them at home," the trainer said. "Not a lot of horses win a Lincoln under 10st. He came there but just got tired, but he's a horse we would have the Royal Hunt Cup targeted for."

Comfort Line's trainer Mick Mulvany said of the runner-up: "I would say we came up against a smart one, but I'm very happy with the run and to hold on to second."

Watch: Raadobarg comes good first time for Johnny Murtagh in the Irish Lincolnshire

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