Saltonstall

Saltonstall ran a cracker to finish second in the Irish Lincoln. Michael Halford’s horse travelled well in rear, he made nice ground from the 3f pole and he finished off his race well on the near side. He just couldn’t catch On The Go Again, but he closed all the way to the line to get to within a length and three quarters of Michael Mulvany’s horse by the time he reached it. It was a fine run from the son of Pivotal on his first run for almost a year, since he finished last of nine in Rekindling’s Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last April.

The Godolphin horse didn’t make his racecourse debut until September of his two-year-old season, and he raced just four times before last Sunday. This was his debut this term, so his scope for progression is obvious. This was his first run too since a gelding operation, and it was his first in a tongue-tie, and it was probably a career-best. He won his maiden on soft ground at Limerick, and it is probable that he will be at his best with at least a little bit of cut in the ground.

Naas, 25^th March 2018