EASILY the best result at Loughbrickland on Saturday was the appearance of Co Down Hounds’ joint-Master Robert Steele who has spent nearly five months in hospital following a fall out hunting - with another pack.

Robert was brought to the meeting by his sister Anne Fenton and her husband Nicky as he insisted that his wife Sylvia attend a side-saddle event.

“Robert will be out for Easter and then back in hospital until he is released for good on April 10th,” reported Sylvia. “Everything is very positive now and he is receiving great encouragement from Wilson Dennison.”

Co Down joint-Master, Dennison similarly managed to attend the point-to-point in the season after his most recent bad fall, a fact that goaded Robert into action last Saturday!

Marshall Watson wasn’t at Loughbrickland as he travelled down to Navan with the yard’s runners. The Killyleagh rider is still recovering from the fall he received on leaving the paddock at The Pigeons early last month. He said: “I tore ligaments between the C2 and C5 vertebrae and I’ve been given no time scale as to when I can resume riding. I’ve a feeling that this point-to-point season is a write-off.

“We’ve 16 horses in work here but they haven’t missed a day. We’ve been getting great help from a number of people but I’d like to give special mention to Frankie Lappin, Matty Bowes and Ally Clarke.

“It’s frustrating not being able to ride and I’m going to find it even more so next Thursday when Illusion Of Time runs in the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree. Johnny King will be riding.”