Henshaw, red, mounts his challenge in Roscommon© Photo Healy Racing
Galway Bay the 2/5 favourite, was turned over in the opener at Roscommon as Paul Deegan's newcomer Henshaw delivered at 16/1.
Galway Bay broke well to dispute the lead with Greyscape in this seven furlong auction maiden. Henshaw raced just behind in fourth with Coillte Mach third on his outer.
the two pole Conor Hoban switched Henshaw out and the pair moved into third as Galway Bay grabbed a narrow lead. Hitting the furlong marker and Henshaw was on terms with Galway Bay as Escondida began to stay on into third.
Henshaw took over with 50 yards to race but was pressed on his outside by Escondida and Kevin Manning who came in second at 6/1. The runner-up was beaten by a head. Galway Bay, on the inside, was third. The winner sported the colours of the trainer's wife.
Conor Hoban said: "He's a lovely horse. He has been showing us the right signs at home. He's a nice horse. He's a lovely moving horse. It was an ideal place to get him started. Hopefully he can progress from here.
"Johnny Levins's (Galway Bay) had great form in the book so it wasn't by any means an ordinary country maiden. I'd like to think it would turn out a good race.
"We went a nice even gallop but he travelled great and picked up great. If anything I got there too soon. He didn't do a whole lot in front but he's entitled to do that on his first racecourse start. When Kevin came to me he was picking up."
Paul Deegan said: "We weren't going to give a bad one that name! He was named the week after the England game after the try scorer (Robbie Henshaw)."
"We always thought he was one of our nicest two-year-olds. Conor was delighted with him and said he gave him some feel.
"He didn't think Kevin was going to go past at any stage. He idled a bit in front but he's babyish and still green. He wasn't fully wound-up and there is a lot of improvement in him.
"He's probably a horse for the back-end really but he was always showing us a lot at home. I'm in no rush to make plans but hopefully he could be a Beresford type of horse.
"That was a decent maiden and there was no fluke about it. He's a fair horse we think."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
