TWO Downpatrick-born riders were on the mark at Sedgefield on Tuesday and while it was good to see Danny McMenamin record his 10th win of the season on the Martin Todhunter-trained Ringaringarosie in the handicap chase, it was even better to watch amateur David Maxwell land the two and a half mile novices’ hurdle.

The London-based property investor, who wore his own colours to success on the Philip Hobbs-trained 2/9 favourite Jatiluwih, was having his first racecourse ride since being injured in a fall at Auteuil in May. In spite of his injuries, Maxwell was crowned the gentlemen jockeys National Hunt champion in Britain last season and was delighted to start his defence of that title with a win.