Colman Sweeney received the ideal boost ahead of partnering Salsify in the Cheltenham Foxhunters in a little under two weeks time by steering Garrett Ahern’s newcomer Now Ben to a hugely-impressive success in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at yesterday’s West Waterford Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Lismore.

Galway Hurdle hero Rebel Fitz returned to a tremendous reception, after coasting to victory in the J P McManus Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

JIMMY Mangan’s Rudi Trucker indicated that he’s set for another productive hunter chase campaign this season by sluicing home in the lady riders open at yesterday’s North Tipperary Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Nenagh, the only hunt racing fixture to take place over the weekend.

A VIRTUAL ‘Groundhog Day’ type scenario repeated itself at yesterday’s Dungarvan Harriers point-to-point meeting at Affane as Jimmy Mangan’s Rudi Trucker repeated his success of 12 months ago in the open lightweight.