Sruthan shines as Paul Deegan dominates the Tote Irish Lincolnshire

The Chris Hayes-ridden Sruthan and last year’s runner-up Aussie Valentine provided local trainer Paul Deegan with a highly creditable one-two in the Tote Irish Lincolnshire on the opening day of the new flat season at the Curragh.

The 12/1 shot, scoring for the first time beyond seven furlongs on turf, was the second leg of a 77/1 double for Hayes, just back from a first winter sojourn in Dubai, which yielded 20 winners, and provided Deegan with his second Lincoln success, having won with Big Robert in 2010.

Aussie Valentine, outpointed by Onenightidreamed last year, made the running but, when Hayes produced Sruthan to challenge approaching the furlong-pole, the outcome was never really in doubt as the six-year-old Arakan gelding stretched clear to triumph by four and a quarter lengths.