Ribee gives Mulvany a second Lincoln success Trainer Mick Mulvany registered his second Irish Lincoln success today as Ribee (20/1) landed the Nua Healthcare-sponsored Flat’s opening-day highlight at the Curragh, under jockey Declan McDonogh. The son of Ribchester had scored three times last year, including in two late-season handicaps, and today completed a hat-trick on reappearance. Held up in touch behind the leaders, McDonogh moved Ribee to lead a furlong-and-a-half out before holding on well to score by 1.5 lengths from Eastwatch . Mulvany, whose best performer Tough As Nails was Group 1-placed in the 2011 Phoenix Stakes, reported “I won this race previously with On The Go Again (in the 2018 renewal, at Naas) and we knew this fella would take a lot of beating. “In those conditions, he’s a hard horse to beat and this has been the plan since last backend - the Lincoln was the goal. “He was travelling all the way and I was just a little worried that he had hit the front a bit early, but we knew he’d get the trip well. He’s a grand big horse and that’s what you want for those conditions. “I’m delighted for the owner/breeders (Lee Regan Partnership) and this is the first horse they bred, so they had to keep him, and he’s been lucky. We booked Declan McDonogh, as Gary Carroll couldn’t do the weight and I feel sorry for Wesley (Joyce) who is stable jockey but the owner wanted a senior lad. “We’ll probably have to go again shortly with Ribee, while he has his ground.” Quotes from Gary Carson
