THERE'S no substitute for class and record-breaking Irish champion jockey Mick Kinane looked just that when snapping straight into winning ways on his return to racing Hong Kong-style at Happy Valley last night.
Kinane notched a 171/2-1 double to kick start retaining trainer David Oughton into action for the season.
They scored with mud-lover Owners Spirit in the fifth event and completed their double when the improving sprinter Classabove held Illico in a driving finish to the final event.
Kinane, fresh from defending his title at home, was in buoyant mood after racing. He beamed: ''I'm really hopeful of things this season. It should be somewhat easier second time round as I simply know more about the place.
''David's team was also dreadfully unlucky last season. He had them in fantastic form and we were really flying during November only for the virus to strike.
''After that they never recaptured their form. They ran in and out but did not come back to themselves overall.'' Kinane's Owners Spirit was untroubled to hold L'Enjoleur on whom champion jockey Basil Marcus excelled in running the quinella.