Richard Dunwoody passed another milestone in an illustrious riding career yesterday evening. His visit to the opening session of the four-day Tramore Festival meeting meant the former British champion has now ridden at every National Hunt racecourse in Britain and Ireland. Not surprisingly, the Ulsterman was also in the winners enclosure after a pillar-to-post victory on Blue Bit in the colours of the Garda Siochana Racing Club.

There was a bumper crowd at the revamped venue, where a major facelift included a new entrance, much-improved bar and restaurant facilities and an extended parade ring.

Dunwoody was presented with Waterford Crystal beforehand by the race committee to mark his achievement, and in making virtually all on Blue Bit in the O'Neill's Handicap Hurdle he celebrated in the best possible fashion. The Noel Meade-trained gelding stretched clear in the dip, and had 12 lengths to spare over the odds-on favourite River Valley Lady at the line, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained top-weight Iacchus a further five lengths back in third.

However, it was not a memorable night for champion apprentice-elect Eddie Ahern, who was suspended for 10 days after dropping his hands on Ruwenzori, who was beaten a neck in the Halfway House Maiden. The Alzao filly, formerly trained in France by Andre Fabre and carrying the famous blue silks of Daniel Wildenstein, looked sure to score until Ahern mistook the winning post and failed to ride out in the final 50 yards.

Michael Scanlon, a 22-year-old amateur rider from Listowel, recorded his first success under rules when Greyventure just held Clash Of The Gales by a head in the opening Grand Hotel Maiden Hurdle.