Carroll returns with a winner

Tim Carroll made a dream return from injury when partnering Caduceus to a 14/1 victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase on his first ride back from a broken arm.

Carroll suffered the fracture when taking a fall from Scouting Party at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, and has spent ten weeks on the sidelines.

The Pat Hughes-trained gelding, himself off the course for 11 months, took it up early in the straight and was in command from before the last.

Carroll could afford to take it easy in the closing stages to beat Code Of The West (11/2) by four and a half lengths, with Binocular (14/1) another three and three quarter lengths back in third.

Hughes said, “I thought he was a good horse one time, and he looked well handicapped today although he had lost his way.

“He was cantering when he burst in Wexford last time but he hasn’t burst either before or since. He’ll stay handicap chasing and he’ll be better on better ground. I quietly fancied him today but you couldn’t back him.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)