ON The Go Again completed a five-timer on the flat when winning a highly-competitive renewal of the Tote Irish Lincolnshire at Naas.

Trainer Michael Mulvany had given the five-year-old three runs over hurdles since his latest success on the level at Tipperary in early October and his fitness showed as he ground out victory in the premier handicap over a mile.

Beach Bar and Aussie Valentine cut out the early running and were still to the fore two and half furlongs out when the race looked wide open.

As the field spread across the track, it was On The Go Again (6/1 favourite) who came with a strong run under Gary Carroll to win by a length and three-quarters from Saltonstall.

Aussie Valentine was two and a quarter lengths away in third, with Pincheck another two lengths back in fourth.

"He gets two miles (over hurdles) on goodish ground, but just about on heavy ground and he has always shown plenty of speed," said Mulvany. "I said to Gary 'what do you think about the Lincoln' and he said 'I'd love to ride him in it'.

"Then I had a word with Mark Bird (handicapper) and he said to me that he was one of the horses that he thought could win the Lincoln.

"We changed plans and kept him away from Cheltenham. We were ready for this race and I haven't even thought where we go after this but looking at that, we'd probably have to go up into a group race.

"The long-range plan is that I'd like to go to the Galway Hurdle. He'll probably get a few spins on the flat and then we might give him a little break around May, all going well.

"We were second in a Group 2 before, but that's the best race we've ever won."

GROUP 3 SUCCESS

Super-sub Leigh Roche overcame being unshipped on the way to the start to guide Making Light to victory in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly showed her well-being when getting rid of her rider in the preliminaries, but the partners were soon reunited.

Roche, who was replacing sidelined stable jockey Pat Smullen, bided his time in the race and produced Making Light (9/4) late to land the one-mile prize by half a length from Panstarr.

"She's a very consistent filly and it's nice to win another group race with her," said Weld. "All being well she'll go for the Gladness, that would be the logical progression for her. Over seven or a mile, she seems to be equally versatile.

"I gather what happened (on the way to the start) was that there are swings down below and some of the children ran out and she unseated Leigh.

"She was always travelling like a winner all the way through and the only slight concern I had was a mile on the very heavy ground, on the score of fitness.

"She's a lovely mare and a lovely mare to train. I think she'll be equally effective over seven as a mile the way she was travelling there at the seven.

"It's lovely to win the first group race of the year, especially as Eva Maria (of owners Moyglare Stud) was here today – she came over to see her run.

DOUBLE

Chris Hayes completed a double by steering Dianthus (12/1) to success over London Icon in the Woodlands 100 Club Madrid Handicap.

The pair dominated the closing stages and it was Richard O'Brien's filly who got the better of the well-regarded 5/4 favourite by a length and three-quarters. They pulled three and three-quarter lengths clear of Crownthorpe in third.

"I'm delighted with her. I was half-hoping something like that could happen because she'd been working terribly well," said O'Brien.

"Chris got off her in Leopardstown and said point her at the Madrid Handicap. To be honest I had to go home and look it up and find out what it was. She came back in on January 2nd and everything has gone unbelievable all the way along to here.

"I'd say there is every chance she's a stakes filly. How long I get to keep her is going to be the big question, but we've done a lot of our job with her and she seems to be quite good.

"Chris was saying she's a Guineas trial filly and she might target the same handicap (at Leopardstown) that last year's winner went for as long as the handicapper doesn't go mental.

"I'd be astonished if she wasn't sold on the strength of that, to be honest."

Hayes also took the six-furlong maiden on the Alan Fleming-trained Katie Cruel.

LONG ABSENCE

Medicine Jack (5/1) overcame a 302-day absence to land a narrow success in the Naas Racecourse Launches The 2018 Flat Season Handicap.

The Ger Lyons-trained four-year-old showed no signs of ring-rustiness as he gained the upper hand close home in the hands of champion jockey Colin Keane, scoring by a head from Smash Williams.

"The horses are as fit as we can have them at home," said Lyons. "Part of me didn't want to run him and the other part said well we've had all of last season off. We literally couldn't get him to raise a gallop at home.

"He was a Group 2 winner, but we gelded him at the end of the season and kept him going. His work was okay but was like we were seeing at two, without getting carried away.

"The only box we didn't tick today was the heavy ground, but my theory is once they turn four I'm running them and if they don't handle it we won't ask them to do it again.

"The wheels are back on the wagon and we'll probably aim for that listed race in Navan (Cork Stakes on April 7). We'll see what the handicapper does and we'll tread lightly. If he gets back to any semblance of what he was at two, we'll have fun with him this summer."

Lyons and Keane completed a double when Bobby Boy (4/1) made a winning debut in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10 Race).

TWO-YEAR-OLD

Pride Of Pimlico stuck on well to come out on top against fellow two-year-old newcomers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Brendan Duke's son of Casamento was always up with the pace before being asked to go and win his race by Ronan Whelan.

Pride Of Pimlico pulled clear in the final half-furlong to spring a 20/1 surprise in the first race of the Irish turf season, beating Eagles Rock by two lengths.

"He must be a really good colt. He's done miles and miles of cantering, but we've never revved the engine," said Duke. "I was horrified by the carry-on of him beforehand, I can't believe that. He's definitely talented and loved the ground.

"He's from a good family, that's four from four for the mare and she won five herself, including twice as a two-year-old. When I give 10 grand for one, they really need to be group horses! He'll progress and we'll take our time with him.

"Today was a big day for him. I'm a bit disappointed with the before-race carry-on, but I think he's a very nice horse. Ground definitely helped because he was very fit. It's a great tribute to the lads at home and how hard they've worked."

READ THE FULL NAAS REPORT IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD