IAN Donoghue, who twice won the Huntsman’s Challenge at Punchestown, recorded his first success since his return to point-to-pointing when landing the open race for novice riders at the re-scheduled Ward Union meeting near Oldtown on Saturday after which he went to complete a first double.

Elder brother of National Hunt jockey Keith, who has twice won the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Tiger Roll, Ian partnered two winners between the flags during his first stint in racing. In 2009, he took up a career in hunting, initially as first whip to the Louths and then as huntsman with the Co Downs.