WHILE the track fixture at Fairyhouse succumbed to frost and fog, there was no such problems at Fairwood Park, with a fine crowd in attendance for this rescheduled Shillelagh and District Foxhounds meet.

Third at this Wicklow venue in October and successful when last seen at Ballycrystal, Gale Force Jet (3/1 - 4/1) followed-up in the open, beating eight older rivals to complete a double for Jamie Scallan.

Trained by Sean Doyle and owned by his brother Gearoid, the Jet Away seven-year-old gained an outright advantage before two out and, while soon ridden and pressed by Asphalt Cowboy, there were two lengths between them on crossing the line.

Travelling into the race nicely on the final circuit, Journey With Me (5/4 - 4/5 favourite) faded tamely on the lengthy run to the penultimate fence and he soon pulled up.

“He is a lovely, tough and honest horse, who is actually improving all the time with racing,” Scallan enthused. “He has just turned seven and is lightly raced, so he’ll improve loads.”

Winning debut

Scallan had earlier claimed the opening five-year-old mares maiden aboard Doubleosue (5/2 - 3/1), one of five debutants in the seven-strong field.

Owned and trained by Robert Tector, the home-bred daughter of Jet Away improved to dispute the lead from two out and edged to the front before the last, keeping on well from there to beat the front-running Push Push by two and a half lengths.

“My father (Neil) bred her and the dam won a point-to-point. She was actually my first ride in a bumper,” the winning handler reflected.

“She is a lovely mare, very straightforward and honest. We fancied her coming here and it’s nice to get the job done. The second had plenty of form and is battle-hardened, so it was a good performance to beat her on debut.”

WHILE saddling just a handful of runners in the intervening years, Mini Getaway (3/1 - 4/1) provided Martin Lynch with his first point-to-point success in nearly a decade, battling to a narrow win in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Out of action for just over a year, the nine-year-old bay, who is owned by Lynch’s wife Suzanne, brought solid track form to the table and was previously placed at both Ballinrobe and Limerick.

While the locally-trained Dontcall attempted to make all in this seven-runner heat, she couldn’t repel the challenge of the James Costello-ridden victor, with just half a length between them at the line.

“That’s my second winner,” Costello explained. “I had my first for Tony (Martin) last year and I started to ride for Martin a bit since. Thankfully, he put me forward for the point-to-point rides.

“She’s always jumped well in her races and had a nice few consistent runs over a trip on the track.”

He then added: “I’m from Galway originally, just outside Athenry. I finished school last year and hopefully I can give this racing gig a good go now and see what happens.”

Fast pace

From nine entries, eight took their chance in the winner of one for novice riders, with Lord Desart (2/1 - 4/1) ultimately coming out on top under Daniel Hyde, who donned the silks of his grandmother, Trish.

Providing Sam Curling with his 17th winner of the campaign and his first of the new year, the eight-year-old was given a patient ride, making progress into second on the approach to two out. Soon ridden and overtaking Mint Approved, the chesnut victor kept on well in the closing stages to beat his aforementioned rival by two and a half lengths.

“They went very quick from the get-go really, everyone was racing to the first,” the winning rider remarked. “I was planning on being second or third and when they all quickened, he wasn’t really happy, so I let him sit out the back.

“We just moved through the field on the downhill the last time and I knew he’d quicken nicely. Hopefully, he’ll work his way through winners’ races before going into opens.”