Herculaneum took a significant step forward from his recent reappearance when running out a very easy winner of the Portwest Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.

Fifth at Bellewstown last month, his first run since October, the Noel Kelly trained gelding looked a different proposition this evening as he made short work of his rivals.

Held up towards rear in the initial stages by Gavin Brouder, the seven-year-old moved closer throughout the second circuit.

Edging into fourth on the outer after jumping two out, Brouder had his mount sat second on the run to the final flight. Leader Fascinating Shadow appeared to be in front on sufferance early in the straight, as Brouder arrived on his outer with a double handful.

Once pushing the button at the 150 yards marker, Brouder quickened clear on Herculaneum to win by two-and-a-half lengths from the running on Tell Us This

Gavin Brouder said: "It's my first time to ride him and Noel (Kelly) kept it very simple. He said that he doesn't do a whole pile in front, so ride him as you find him and creep into it slowly and come with one run.

"I was a bit wide but I was on a fresh strip of ground and he was in a rhythm the whole way. He travelled so well that, in the end, I was in front too soon but he kept going well to the line.

"As long as you can keep him happy through his races, then he might be able to take another step forward."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan.