Double joy for Kildare jockey - and Double Whammy for Kildare developer, Sean Mulryan of Ballymore!

What a great festival this is shaping up to be for Clane jockey Mark Walsh as he rode City Island to success in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham today, the opening fixture on today's schedule.

And for sponsors, the Roscommon born Sean Mulryan and his wife, it was a double whammy as they are also the owners of the Martin Brassil trained City Island!

Mulryan founded Ballymore Properties Group who now trade simply as 'Ballymore' and today's winner runs in the colours of his wife Bernadine, who lead the City Island into the winner's enclosure, their first ever win at Cheltenham!

The six-year-old is trained by Kildare based Martin Brassil, who also trained Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde in 2006.

Yesteday, Walsh rode 16-1 shot Espoir D'Allen trained by Gavin Cromwell, to win by an impressive 15 lengths. Melon finished second with 80-1 shot Silver Streak in third, and Laurina finishing in fourth.

Today, Walsh's timing was perfect as he pushed City Island through a gap between Sams Profile and Valdieu and went on to take the honours, with a two length gap.

No doubt, the Mulryans win is being celebrated already in Ballymore Eustace, where the couple live and on doubt, there'll be party on their return!

Featured photos show an ecstatic Mark Walsh coming in on City Island to the winning enclosure and the Mulryan, Bernadine and Sean photographed at Naas Races last month when City Island also won.