Take Heart heads for home© Photo Healy Racing
Take Heart justified 11/8 favouritism in the extended 10 furlong handicap worth €22,000 at Naas.
He travelled in third approaching the straight and closed three furlongs out before soon picking up the lead on the bit.
He was pushed along to try and assert racing to the final furlong and ridden for victory in the final 200 yards.
The Dark Angel gelding sccoted in by a comfortable length and three-parts from the 13/2 runner-up Golden Spangle Galileo's Compass (33/1)
"Ben doesn't do 8-10 very often but he was keen to ride him,” said Johnny Murtagh.
“He said he gave him a good feel the last day, he probably should have won but he just didn't get enough room at the right time.
“He's a fine big horse that doesn't do much at home, but when he comes to the track you can't fault his form.
“He's one of those big slow developers and I think he'll make up into a premier handicap horse the way he is going. He's only had a few runs so he should keep improving.
“I put him in the big mile-and-a-quarter handicap on Champions Weekend, the Northfields. Whether it's too early for him or not, I'm not sure and we'll see what Barry Irwin wants to do.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
