Freedom Square got off the mark at the third time of asking when making virtually all in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

The only runner in this eight-strong field with any previous experience, the well-backed 9/4 joint favourite put that to good use when staying on well inside the final furlong under Kevin Manning to beat Shining Emerald (16/1) by a length and a half. Monsieur Power (10/1) was just a neck back in third, while Bush Pilot was the real eye-catcher staying on well in the closing stages just a neck further away in fourth.

Winning trainer Jim Bolger said, “He’s got the hang of it now at long last. I think he goes on any ground, and we’ll try to upgrade him a bit.

“He’s in the Railway Stakes and we’ll have a look at that.”