THE Denis Murphy-trained newcomer Histrionic created an extremely favourable impression at Friday’s North Kerry Harriers meeting at Tralee racecourse by sauntering home on his debut in the four-year-old maiden. providing Jack Hendrick with a most meritorious 50th career success in points.

Well-touted beforehand, the Grangeclare Stud-owned Histrionic (2/1 - 7/4 favourite) was held up at the rear of the eight-runner field as newcomer Boston Boy picked up the running from the fifth of the 13 fences.

The son of Walk In The Park, whose dam is a sister to four blacktype performers including Grade 3 Chase winner Alfie Sherrin, mover ever closer from after four out and he edged past Boston Boy with two fences remaining.

Histrionic was always in command thereafter and the €100,000 Derby sale graduate duly accounted for the promising Boston Boy by two and a half lengths, the pair returning nine lengths clear of last month’s Belclare third Dedicated Hero.

“You can be sometimes nervous running a big money horse, but his homework was always very good and he will now go to the Punchestown sale next week,” reported handler Murphy of Histrionic. (He made €450,000 to Paul Nicholls on Thursday).

Double

Hendrick then brought up a double aboard the Shark Hanlon-trained Le Jeune Bresil (5/2 - 3/1) in the six-year-old and upwards maiden.

Le Jeune Bresil had just one previous outing and that was when falling six out at Aghabullogue over three months earlier.

The son of Blue Bresil picked up the running after the fifth fence and, while a shade keen, Hendrick was still able to conserve the British-bred’s energy and he was already travelling best with a couple of lengths advantage when throwing a fabulous leap two out.

Le Jeune Brasil powered clear before the last to account for Laherdaun by 10 lengths in the colours of joint-owners David Egan and Rachel O’Neill.

With the winning handler on duty at Kilbeggan, his partner Ms O’Neill remarked: “He’s a big backward horse that has needed time to fill into his frame. We like him a lot and he’ll now go to a sale.”

The father and son team of handler Pat and rider Jimmy O’Rourke combined to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Cuchullan’s Son (6/1 - 8/1), a respectable seventh on his previous start behind Park The Giant at Curraghmore.

Likely winner

Cuchullan’s Son set out with the intention of making all and was headed by the sweet-travelling Bitsnbuckles before the second last.

Bitsnbuckles appeared the most likely winner on the run to the last as he held a decisive three-length advantage, however Micheal Griffin’s charge forfeited almost certain victory by blundering here and then losing valuable momentum.

Cuchullan’s Son made the most of the opportunity presented to him by surging past as the line approached to see off the luckless Bitsnbuckles by a half-length in the silks of his handler’s wife Phyllis with the favourite Dusiastor returning a further head adrift in third spot.

In the absence of the winning handler, Jimmy O’Rourke disclosed: “He’s one that we’ve always thought a lot of, but a horse fell in front of him after a mile on his first two runs. He should improve a lot.”

SAM CURLING cemented his second-placed position in the handlers’ championship by saddling a double, the Skehanagh Stables operator opening his account courtesy of One For Daisy (2/1 - 5/2) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The recent Rathcannon runner-up One For Daisy led or disputed the running until dropping back to third after the fourth last as Glendaars Fortune moved into pole position.

Derek O’Connor was however merely biding his time aboard One For Daisy and he sent the daughter of Mahler back to the front at the second-last.

One For Daisy quickly put the issue beyond doubt and she crossed the line with four lengths to spare over Glendaars Fortune.

“I’m delighted, Gerry Mangan pre-trained her and she then came to me,” commented Curling of One For Daisy, owned and bred by John Sayers from Listowel. “She will now go for the point-to-point bumper at Tipperary and she’ll be a nice mare next year.”

Curling then sent out Shannon Bridge (3/1 - 4/1), the mount of his pharmacist owner Gerry Spain, to land the novice riders’ open.

Shaping well

Shannon Bridge, a former four-time track scorer for Dan Skelton that was under the care of Martin Cullinane when shaping well without winning in Irish points as a four-year-old, vindicated the promise of his penultimate effort when coming a fine fourth in the Knockanard banks’ race a little over two months earlier by edging ahead with three fences remaining.

While runner-up Ma Hoey was in no mood to go down without a fight, Shannon Bridge was already holding all the aces when throwing a superb leap at the last and he asserted to contain Eoin McCarthy’s mare by three and a half lengths.

“We only decided to run him this morning and he’ll now go to Punchestown for the La Touche Cup,” said Curling of the 10-year-old Shannon Bridge.

TRACK experience often proves crucial in points and Jeanette Riordan’s former hurdler Fabreze (6/1 - 8/1) came from well off the pace under a confident Brian Barry to spring a major surprise in the concluding mares’ winners’ of one.

Fabreze, one of seven maidens in the race, made smooth progress after four out and she moved through to join issue with Seventy Eight Team on the outer before the second-last.

However, Seventy Eight Team was then cannoned into by a loose horse, duly unseating her partner as Fabreze forged clear to dismiss Rosietoken by two lengths. The 20-year-old Conna native was delighted to win aboard Fabreze as the triumphant eight-year-old represents her handler’s daughter Jessica Riordan who is also married to his fellow amateur rider brother Johnny Barry.

Bitsnbuckles (M. C. Griffin): This son of Well Chosen was most unlucky in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden as he was travelling best when erring at the last. He was then beaten a half-length into second spot and he should effortlessly atone.