Historg upheld family honour and landed a gamble in the process when galloping through the mud at Newcastle yesterday.

Ferdy Murphy's charge was slashed to 4 to 1 at the off of the Newcastle Novices' Hurdle after being available at 10 to 1.

Historg was clearly travelling best as the runners came into the straight and was sent clear after the last by Adrian Maguire to defeat Case of Poteen easily. "This horse came to me in September after being trained by Francois Doumen and he's taken time to come to himself. "He has a great pedigree as he's a half-brother to Fadalko and in the last couple of weeks he's really started to come on. He's a great prospect as he's built to be an out-and-out chaser," said Murphy.

At Leicester, Chris Kellett had mixed feelings following the victory of his Precious Island in the Peter Sandrovitch Handicap Chase. The Swadlincote trainer also had Passereau in the race but with Precious Island sent off the 4 to 1 favourite and her stable companion a 12 to 1 chance unseating his rider four out, when on the heels of the leaders, punters got it right.

However, Kellett had got it wrong. "I fancied the other one actually, more than this one. At the price he was I fancied him to go and win us a few quid," he admitted on greeting the winner.