THE sun shone, the rain came, the dark clouds hung overhead only to clear with a double rainbow over the Louth Foxhounds Point-to-Point at Tattersalls in Fairyhouse. But that did not dampen the spirits of two young riders with strong hunting credentials.

James Costello, whose father Anthony is the huntsman of the Galway Blazers, was having his first ride on Getsetgo for Paul Gilligan in a point-to-point, and had plenty of advice from his father and from up and coming star of Gordon Elliott’s stable and fellow Galwayman, Danny Gilligan, who walked the track with him.

Galway Blazers huntsman Anthony Costello and his son James riding in his first race at The Louth Foxhounds Point to Point at Tattlersalls \ Noel Mullins

Another young graduate of the Fingal Harriers, Jack Sutton, was riding Cousin Zeleznik for Fingal Harriers’ joint-master Brian Beggan.

Brian trains the horse himself at his home farm nearby and is to be seen on next door neighbours’ Jim and Tom Dreaper’s gallops on many mornings.

Brian has also travelled further afield in the past with his chaser Mosse Harpur, who ran twice in the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic.

Both riders acquitted themselves well and will be back for another day.