Henson finally gets off the mark

The David Marnane trained Henson finally got off the mark on his eighth career start as he took the Mosscontrol.ie Apprentice Maiden.

The son of Excellent Art finished a somewhat unlucky second on his last start at Galway when squeezed for room in the closing stages by the winner Antique Platinum.

Sent off the 6/4 favourite to go one place better this evening he made virtually all under Connor King and was ridden from two furlongs out, keeping on well in the closing stages to win by three lengths.

The Tommy Stack trained newcomer Salariaq ran a fine race to finish second under Keith Moriarty at 10/1 while the frustrating Duchess Andorra was a further three parts of a length back in third.

David Marnane said afterwards: "When he ran in Bellewstown last year if you said he was going to be a maiden until now I would have said no way!

"He deserved it, it was probably trainer error because he needs stepping up. He likes a flat and galloping track and the long straight helped.

"He is a fine big horse, he will suit the jump boys and we might move him on at the end of the year."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes