After finishing third in the Silver Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas last Sunday Tar Heel got off the mark at the seventh time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan.

Mikey Sheehy donned the silks of owner David Forecast on the Zoffany colt, and Joseph O’Brien’s runner made his experience count.

Both with just one previous run to their name, Tashgheel and Dixie Bluebell stuck to the task well but eventually yielded by a neck and three parts of a length.

“You always say that horses deserve to win races but he really does,” said Joseph O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell.

“He tries and he's just kept finding one or two too good. He's ground that out well and the experience told as well today.

“He has a mark of 81 and he is what he is but he'll win his races because he tries. He's a big enough horse too so hopefully he might go on to next season as well.”

(GC & EM)