WILLIAM Haggas enhanced his already outstanding recent record in Ireland by prevailing in a thrilling finish to the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire with Lattam under a masterfully-timed ride by Chris Hayes.

It was the first British-trained winner in the €100,000 premier handicap’s history, with the 8/1 shot getting up in the final stride to break the heart of admirable stalwart Saltonstall by a short-head, one of six Ado McGuinness-trained runners to finish in the first 10 places.

Another British raider, Totally Charming, looked likeliest to strike for favourite backers and George Boughey when trading at even-money in the in-running markets as he moved to the front, but his effort petered out under Colin Keane to finish seventh of 27 runners.

The unexposed winner, who carried the colours of Wrigleys And Wyatts, had at least 10 horses in front of him approaching the final 100 yards before flying home late.

It marked Haggas’ ninth winner from his last 19 runners in Ireland since July 2018 (47% strike rate), while Hayes has now won three of the last eight runnings of the Irish Lincoln. The leading rider has also finished second in the race twice, third twice and fourth.

“I was told to leave it very late and I did what I was told!” quipped Hayes. “He travelled lovely and relished the ground.

“After Mr Haggas had finished giving me the instructions, I said I’d be aiming to get there inside the furlong pole. He said ‘oh God, an awful lot later than that if you can, but see how you’re travelling’. I was a short-head away from a shocker but we won so I gave it a great ride!”

Pardon prevails

A good afternoon for Hayes continued when he scored on Queen’s Pardon in the six-furlong Live Music After Racing At McDonnells Bar Newbridge Handicap for the Peateawhy Syndicate and joint-trainers Eddie and Patrick Harty.

“She was disappointing in the second half of last season and the handicapper was very fair by giving her a chance [by dropping her from 69 to 61],” Patrick Harty said of the 7/1 winner.

“Eddie had a share in her last year with a couple of guys and the plan was always to go to the sales. We felt there was meat on the bone and there was definitely a win in her, so we bought her back. We got a call from the Peateawhy Syndicate to buy her and this is their first runner for us.”

WILLIE McCreery is hoping 2023 will be the year that Insinuendo finally plunders a Group 1 prize, and the likeable six-year-old got her campaign off to the best possible start by winning the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes under Billy Lee.

A sporting decision from connections to keep the Gleneagles mare in training at the age of six saw her gain a deserved change of luck at the Curragh, having been just touched off in second on her last three appearances here in this race last year, the Royal Whip and Blandford Stakes.

Owned by the Deegan Racing Syndicate, it was her first start since finishing down the field in the valuable Bahrain International Trophy in November.

McCreery said of the even-money winner: “Michael [Deegan] was brave enough to hold on to her for another year so it’s great to get started. Billy said she did everything wrong, she didn’t settle and he clipped heels trying to get her to settle and she still was pulling.”

On targets for the 110-rated performer, McCreery said: “She’s been Group 1 placed so we’ll aim for all the Group 1s for the year. The Tattersalls Gold Cup is an option. We’ll see what way the ground is. She’s a proper mare.”

Caffrey compensation on Razdan

Adam Caffrey was narrowly denied feature-race success in the Lincoln on Saltonstall but didn’t leave the Curragh empty handed thanks to a win in the Westgrove Hotel Handicap for Razdan, trained by Chris Timmons for the Royal Racing Club.

The dual-purpose five-year-old, who returned at odds of 15/2, won more convincingly than a margin of three quarters of a length suggests off top-weight.

Timmons said: “I wanted to get a run into him before Fairyhouse at Easter. He’s been a bit unlucky, last year the ball didn’t bounce right for him. He has loads of ability and he’ll win again.”

McGuinness also had some compensation for his near miss in the Lincoln thanks to a repeat result in the five-furlong DMG Media Handicap for last year’s winner Laugh A Minute, who rewarded decent market support at 4/1 to readily score under Ronan Whelan for Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

AMO Racing’s newly-retained rider Kevin Stott made his mark on the opening day of the new turf season by riding his first winner in Ireland aboard Bucanero Fuerte in the opening two-year-old maiden of the year.

Trained by Adrian Murray, the Wootton Bassett colt appeared to be fully comfortable on ground described as soft to heavy (heavy in places) and drew clear to score by two and three quarters of a length as 3/1 favourite.

Bought by Robson Aguiar for €165,000 as a yearling and still jointly owned by Giselle De Aguiar, Bucanero Fuerte is a brother to heavy-ground Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded.

Speaking after his win in the five-furlong Alkumait Standing At Capital Stallions Irish EBF Maiden, Stott said: “He went through the motions really nicely and was very professional. He gave me a nice feel. It was my first time to sit on him.

“You’d have to see how he comes out of the race and what happens going forward, but of course he’ll be a Royal Ascot contender, I’d say.”

Honey lands first pot

Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle wasted little time in opening their account for the new turf season with a win in the seven-furlong Cavalor Equine Nutrition Fillies and Mares Maiden through Honey Girl.

Extremely highly-rated for a maiden, with a mark of 102 before her breakthrough success as 6/5 favourite, the four-year-old by Mayson was making a winning first start since joining the Owning Hill team from Henry de Bromhead for 180,000gns last November.

O’Brien said: “I thought she was a bit fresh early and didn’t have much cover, so the way the race panned out I thought she did well to win. Her and the runner-up [Unless] pulled five and a half lengths clear of the third and I’d say they are two smart fillies.

“We’ll see how she comes out of it and she could come back here for the Gladness Stakes [on April 16]. She’s a smart and exciting filly for the future.

“I’m delighted to get a winner for Tim Porter; this is the first runner he’s had with us who he owns himself.”

Shadowed shines in double

O’Brien doubled up in the seven-furlong Goffs London Sale Maiden (for colts and geldings) when Shadowed, ridden by Shane Crosse, built on some smart runs last season to score by two and a quarter lengths for the EuroLindy Syndicate.

The Caravaggio colt had finished third behind Beresford Stakes winner Crypto Force and Vertem Futurity Stakes scorer Auguste Rodin on debut at this track, and was second again behind the latter rival at Naas before failing to fully fire on his final outing at Dundalk in November.

“This was a nice performance,” said O’Brien. “He had some smart runs in maidens last year and we felt he didn’t handle Dundalk. He came here rated 84 so he could potentially go into a handicap.”