RICHARD Fahey, whose horses are invariably ready as soon as the new turf season opens, won his second Betway Lincoln in four years at Doncaster last Saturday.

Having advised the public that his ‘Gabrials’ would certainly challenge well-touted rivals from the big Newmarket yards, the Yorkshire-based Irishman triumphed with 12/1 chance Gabrial as stable-companion Gabrial’s Kaka, having seen plenty of daylight towards the stands’ side, faded out of contention. Both are owned by Dr Marwan Koukash.

The action unfolded in the centre of the course with Lincoln, appropriately enough, leading the charge at too fast a pace. Mange All and Gm Hopkins, the market leaders, were both close enough with two furlongs to travel but it was David O’Meara’s 25/1 shot Mondialiste who led and went clear before the furlong pole.

He stayed on well but Gabrial, sensibly given time by Tony Hamilton after quite serious crowding, found plenty inside the final 100 yards and went on close home to score by a neck. Moohaarib finished third, followed by What About Carlo and Mange All.

Fahey often calls upon former stable jockey Paul Hanagan when the latter’s schedule permits and has two or three very talented apprentices on the books.

However, Hamilton is the rock-solid professional who gets the job done and this was his second Lincoln after partnering Brae Hill to victory for the owner and trainer in 2012.

For his part, Gabrial had taken on more talented rivals in the past, finishing third to Frankel in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood at one stage and also winning the Listed Doncaster Mile on this card in 2013.

He had tried much longer trips, even taking in the Ebor at one stage, but had slipped down the handicap after a modest summer in 2014, when he only came good on his final outing.

“He was getting killed at one stage today but I could see he was cantering and it was just a question of whether he would get out in time,” Fahey said. “He’s a bit of a character but he’s always been a good horse, though I’ve never seen him pin his ears back and have a real go as he did there.”

Gabrial’s Kaka is better than he showed last week and will no doubt try to follow up last year’s victory in the Newbury Spring Cup, but O’Meara will look for a listed prize with Mondialiste, who delighted him on his first outing since arriving from Freddie Head’s for €190,000.

Dr Marwan Koukash is a man who knows his own mind and Fahey has been known to remark to colleagues that the way to get on with the flamboyant owner is simply to do exactly as he says. So, as soon as the good doctor nominated the Huxley Stakes at his favourite Chester for Gabrial’s next outing, the trainer smiled and said: “That’s it then, sorted!”