TAKE Charge Star (7/2) set himself up for a shot at the Goffs Million when opening his account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Third on debut at the Curragh 10 days previously, the Johnny Murtagh-trained colt led a furlong and a half from home and soon asserted to post a two-and-a-half length win under Ben Coen.

“Ben was very happy with him the first day, he didn’t get much of a run and he said he was a bit unlucky really,” said Murtagh. “I think it stood to him. We came back 10 days later because we wanted to qualify him for the Goffs Million. That was his big target this year.

“They are new owners from America (Maribeth Sandford) and this is the first batch of horses they’ve had with me.”

Promise realised

In the opening fillies’ maiden, the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Kensington Lane gained a deserved success after two runner-up efforts. Gavin Ryan had the 9/4 shot prominent throughout and led over a furlong out to post a cosy five-length success.

Ryan said: “She’s been improving away slowly. Her form is rock solid and she was entitled to do that.”

JESSICA Harrington and Shane Foley bagged a double on the card courtesy of Lavender Breeze and Thrifty Of Digby. The former went to post a 16/1 shot but stayed on stoutly to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. The Imad Alsagar-owned filly led over a furlong from home and was always doing enough to prevail by a neck.

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “We’re delighted with that. She’s a filly that has just taken a little bit of time. The way the race panned out today really suited her. They went hard, the wide draw definitely helped her, and she hit the line well.

“We’ll see what the team want to do with her. She’s going to handle a bit of ease in the ground so we might give her a shot at a stakes race.”

Not for passing

Thrifty Of Digby later proved tough when making most of the running in the Irish Injured Jockeys Handicap over a mile. The 5/1 favourite was strongly pressed by Dragon Of Malta in the closing stages and kept on well to record a neck victory.

“She had three weeks out in the field and was just ready to start back,” Kate Harrington said. “It was kind of a stepping stone for the fillies’ handicap in Punchestown, so we’ll go there.

“Hopefully we have a nice autumn with her. She’s a lovely filly and I’d imagine Pat (Harty, owner) will keep her in training next year as well.”

Family in form

Thrifty Of Digby’s half-sister Gloriously Glam (10/3) took the fillies’ claimer on the card over the same trip for Ado McGuinness. Adam Caffrey’s mount also produced a fine front-running performance, staying on strongly late on to score by two and three-quarter lengths..

“She’s dropped in grade a bit, she ran well here the last day in a claimer as well,” said McGuinness. “I’d say the little bit of juice in the ground has helped her a bit. Adam was very good on her, he took no messing and sent her.”

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Ballysax Hank (11/4) made a winning start under flat rules when landing the concluding maiden over a mile and six furlongs for owner Paul Byrne. Gary Carroll’s mount missed the kick slightly but stayed on best to lead over a furlong out, beating Seo Linn by half a length.

Carroll said: “He was very good. I thought we rolled away nice and even and I was probably at the pin of my collar most of the way.

“It turned into a stamina test which played to my strengths. Two miles would be right up his street and on softer ground again. With a bit of luck there is more to come.”

Bog back in front

Veteran performer The Bog Bank added an eighth career victory to her CV in the apprentice handicap over a mile. Sam Coen produced Tom McCourt’s charge with a strong run to lead in the closing stages and scored by half a length for owners Hug O’Brien, Loughlin Flynn and JB Tolan.

“She’s as genuine as you get, she was good and tough the whole way up that straight,” Coen reported. “Tom said to give her space because she doesn’t like being covered up, so I kept her wide. We fancied her today back in grade and she loves that ground.”

For sale

Gangsta Man also got on top late on when landing the three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs for Kevin Smith. Wesley Joyce’s mount chased down Washington Street close home to record a neck success at odds of 5/1.

“He’s been a bit unlucky in a couple of his runs and probably deserved it,” Smith said. “The plan was to bring him to the horse-in-training sales in Newmarket and I don’t know if he’ll run again between now and then.”