SUBSTANTIAL rain in the preceding days resulted in testing conditions for horses and humans alike at last Sunday’s Scarteen Hunt meeting held at Comea.

One rider who will have been particularly happy that the track passed an early morning inspection on race day is 20-year-old local David Russell as he enjoyed his first-ever success in the saddle aboard Albaquirky (2/1 - 3/1) in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.