Leading amateur rider Nina Carberry made a victorious return to action at Ballinrobe following the birth of her daughter Rosie.
Carberry, who is married to Ted Walsh jnr, teamed up with Cask Mate in the Connacht Tribune Flat Race over an extended two miles for trainer Noel Meade.
Having her first ride since November, Carberry had Cask Mate perfectly placed to kick clear in the straight and the 9-4 joint-favourite ran out an easy 12-length winner.
Carberry said: “It’s great – Noel gave me a nice horse to ride and thank God I steered him in the right direction, I remember the way to go around.
“I’ve had a wonderful nine months and little Rosie arrived – I wouldn’t swap that for any winner – but it’s good to be back.
“I couldn’t believe it turning in, I was like ‘have we got another lap to go?’.
“Noel quietly fancied him, so it was nice to get back on a winner.”
Meade was thrilled to have provided Carberry with a dream comeback.
He said: “It was marvellous. She was very excited about coming back. Ted was telling me she was really hopping.
“She said she’d come back for Listowel, but then we didn’t have anything to run.
“I wanted her to come back to ride the horse in Roscommon, but she said it was just a bit soon for her.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for her – it’s great to have her back – she’s a magic person.
“I must admit that I was surprised by how easy he won. I didn’t think he could win as easy as that.
“He’s a full brother to Russian Bill but he has more boot than him, more pace.
“Sometimes they just need a bit of time. I’m sure that’ll be the end of bumpers now and the syndicate are from Irish Distillers. They’ve had horses with me for years.”
Carberry, 33, is one of the most successful amateur riders in the National Hunt sphere. She has won the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival four times and landed the Irish Grand National on Organised Confusion in 2011.
