Murtagh has Britannia aspirations for Aston Value Aston Value rewarded favourite backers at 3/1 by a head in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over seven furlongs at Gowran Park. Ben Coen worked him to the front inside the final 150 yards and he was able to fend off fast-finishing Senna's Girl (9/2) by a head. Hopes Are High (7/1) was another three-parts away in third. Aston Value improved upon a pair of third places in Cork and the Curragh last season. Johnny Murtagh said: "He had a bad draw and I was a bit worried coming here, and he was a horse that I thought would go on good to firm well. “We took a chance, Ben said he struggled a bit on the ground but he did well to win. We’re delighted that he got a win. “He has been improving and there is probably a bit more to come as we step him up. He’ll probably get a mile really well, on good to firm ground. “We’ll see what mark he gets now. I was always hoping that he’d make into a Britannia Handicap type of horse.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
