MANY congratulations to ridden hunter and working hunter pony competitor Ivan Ryan who partnered his first point-to-point winner at Tattersalls Ireland last Sunday.

Ivan, who competed at the Horse of the Year Show in October, rode Lilly’s Girl to a seven-length success in the Louth Hunt Members six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.

The 2016 Arcadio mare is trained for her Dunshaughlin owner/breeder Robert Keane by locally-based Dermot McLoughlin who saddled the winners of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for the last two seasons.

Sunday’s win was a belated birthday present for Ivan who, with his twin brother Jimmy, turned 18 three days earlier. Jimmy, who rides as an apprentice on the flat, recorded his 13th career success earlier this month at Dundalk. He is attached to the Tom McCourt yard while Ivan rides out in the mornings for Jim Dreaper before returning home to work at the mixed Cabragh Lodge yard of his parents, Kieran and Mairead.