Fitzgerald returns from injury with Cork winner

Shane Fitzgerald returned from injury riding his first winner since July today, steering Monishter Are Mwee (7/2) to a dramatic win in Cork's I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Beginners Chase, for one-horse trainer Jane Hearne.

Grade 3-placed over hurdles, Monishter Are Mwee was held up in rear for much of today's race and moved into contention from the second-last. However the daughter of Curtain Time 'ran down' the final fence, jumping badly right and surrendering her lead, but rallied well to edge past runner-up Salmanino close home.

Local jockey Fitzgerald said “I fractured my C7 vertebra and did ligament damage to my T1 And T2 in a fall here last August so it was a long road back. I came back racing 10 days ago and it is great to back in the winner's enclosure for sure.

“I'm freelancing and from Monday-to-Friday, ride out for Enda Bolger, John Ryan, Gordon Elliott, Joseph O'Brien and Colm Murphy. I have four winners left in my claim and this is great to get.”

He added “I was letting her (Monishter Are Mwee) run down the last because she was all wrong coming into it but I knew I'd enough horse left. She obviously went a lot more right than anticipated and to be fair, she got me out of a hole.

“It is great to get back and get the ball rolling again.”

Trainer Hearne added “ Monishter Are Mwee is my only horse in training at the moment and I have great help from a neighbouring trainer Margaret Flynn, who is invaluable to me.

“We go to Curramore gallop three or four times a week and she brings horses to tow me along. She will improve some amount and will go to Limerick at Christmas for a mares' Grade 2 chase.

“My husband farms and this is a hobby at the moment but I'd to have five or six horses to train.”