Golden Handshake makes the breakthrough over hurdles Golden Handshake (10/11F) made virtually all to score handsomely under Philip Byrnes in the second division of the ML Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd. Maiden Hurdle at Killarney. Positioned in second for the first circuit, Bill Durkan's victor took the lead before the fourth last. Although not foot perfect at either the third or second last, this dual flat scorer quickened up well before the final flight and put the race to bed easily, beating Certosa (80/1) by 10 lengths. Approval (28/1) stayed on from the rear to be a moderate third, beaten a further four and three-quarter lengths. Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said, "He had very bad feet but a friend of mine advised me to buy him, and said to just give him time. We have given him plenty of that and while he doesn't want very quick ground, he has always shown us plenty. "We liked him going to Galway where I felt he was my nap of the week, and I think he'd have won (only for unseating rider at the last). "He'll go for a winners' of one or novice and we'll race him until the ground becomes heavy. I haven't got one 'up the hill' at Cheltenham yet, so maybe he could be one for the October meeting over there. To get these colours to win over there would mean a lot to me. "I've never had a Zarak (stallion) horse until him and he is beautiful." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
