THE East Down Foxhound’s meeting at Tyrella drew a fine crowd on a pleasant winter’s day. A drying sea breeze and lack of recent rain made for quick underfoot conditions, uncharacteristic for this time of year.

Clare native Gearoid O’Loughlin made a great start to his association with owner Chris Jones when Home Farm (10-12/1) took the Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors open on just his second start for the handler. The 10-year-old is another high-class recruit to the open division as he was once rated 153 over fences and ran in the Grand National less than 12 months ago.