'He's a nice horse and one I like' - can Johnny Murtagh strike in Irish Lincoln?

Saturday: 4.16 Curragh
Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire (Premier Handicap) | 1m | 4yo+ | RTV

Johnny Murtagh has yet to land the Irish Lincoln, but he has two solid chances of ripping up that statistic in the shape of Carrytheone and Raadobarg.

Ben Coen is on Raadobarg, a new recruit from the Roger Varian stable who rattled off a hat-trick of wins last year. Those three wins were on varying ground too as it was good to firm when he got off the mark at Leicester, soft at Thirsk and heavy at Haydock when he made a winning handicap debut off a mark of 88.

The Night Of Thunder colt, a half-brother to the speedy Captain Dunne, cost 150,000 guineas at the Tattersalls horses-in-training sale last October and is in off a mark of 98. He is very interesting indeed.

So, too, is stablemate Carrytheone. He might be five but he has run just nine times and the way he won at Gowran Park in September suggests there is more to come. He was runner-up in a Group 3 at Tipperary on his penultimate start so has a touch of class.

Ado McGuinness is mob-handed and 2020 winner Bowerman could be the best of his, although he does have over three lengths to make up on San Andreas from their last encounter.

Dermot Weld won this in 2014 with Stuccodor and he relies upon Tazaral this time. The son of Fastnet Rock hit a low of 1.23 in running on Betfair when beaten by Ottoman Emperor at Navan in July but that was over 1m2f and he might not quite have seen it out. He is a fascinating contender back over a mile here with an opening handicap mark of 99.

'He seems to be back to his old self' – is Bowerman the best of the McGuinness septet?

The Ado McGuinness empire is growing apace and the popular Lusk-based trainer is responsible for a quarter of the field as he bids to bag the Irish Lincoln for a second time in three years.

Bowerman, successful in 2020, is back to try to regain the crown, with Ryan Moore booked on his first ride for the stable.

"The more horses you run, the more chance you have!" McGuinness said of his chunky team. "Bowerman is a previous winner of the Lincoln and seems to be back to his old self. I'm very happy with him."

Bowerman: the 2020 winner bids to regain his crownCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

According to the market, though, the pick of the McGuinness mob is Current Option who is now rated 107 but has the very smart Cian MacRedmond taking 5lb off.

McGuinness said: "Current Option won in Galway off top weight and a rating of 105. He's well used to carrying weight."

He added: "Saltonstall was fourth in the Irish Cambridgeshire last year and is a two-time Galway Mile winner. He loves the Curragh and should run a big race. Sirjack Thomas was a two-time premier handicap winner last year and loves a little dig in the ground. He should run a solid race.

"Star Harbour is a progressive horse and the drier the ground the better for him. Star Of Cashel has a very light weight. He was fourth in the Irish Lincoln last season, although not for me, and he's in very good form and I'm expecting a big run with the light weight.

"Casanova is another horse who was very progressive last year. He was fourth in a Group 3 and placed in a Listed race. I think he's progressive and if he runs up to that sort of form, he has a chance."

What they say

Johnny Murtagh, trainer of Carrytheone and Raadobarg
Carrytheone has a bit of class, but I just hope he hasn't got too much weight. We've had a clear run with him so he's fit and raring to go. I haven't had Raadobarg long but my first impressions are telling me he's a nice horse and he's one I like. I hope it doesn't dry out too much as he would ideally like a bit of cut in the ground.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of San Andreas
He's a lovely, consistent and solid horse and we're hoping for another good run from him. We'd like to see the ground dry out as much as possible between now and the race for him.

Kate Harrington, assistant trainer of Laelaps
Laelaps is a bit of a soft-ground horse but has done very well over the winter and is an awful lot more relaxed now compared to last year. He's been gelded since last year and we're very happy with his work.

Mick Mulvany, trainer of In From The Cold and Comfort Line
The drying ground will be against In From The Cold. He's mad fit and he's ready to go, but I would prefer more juice in the ground for him. On their home work, there is very little between him and Comfort Line who has a lovely low weight and goes well fresh. I wouldn't rule him out at all.

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Ahandfulofsummers
She'll get the trip well and she won't mind the bit of ease in the ground. I'm hoping she has progressed from last year, and it was great to finish off the season winning her maiden in Tipperary after running well in a lot of races. She seems in good shape.

Saturday's domestic race previews:

1.15 Doncaster: trainer quotes and pedigree analysis for Doncaster's traditional season opener

1.50 Doncaster: 'The track should really suit him' – can the top-rated favourite show his class?

3.00 Doncaster: Chindit has form to outclass rivals and maintain unbeaten first-time-out record

3.35 Doncaster: 'He looks a big player' – Appleby bullish Modern News can grab Lincoln headlines

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