Lalor returns with a winner

Liz Lalor made a fairytale return from a potentially serious neck injury when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase on Carrigeen Lechuga trained by her father Dick.

Lalor, three times champion lady point-to-point rider, has spent over two months on the sidelines with a broken C1 vertebra sustained in a fall at Boulta point-to-point on November 27.

This two and three quarter mile event marked her first ride back, and it proved a real incident-packed affair with just five of the 16 runners completing the course.

The drama started at the first where Ask Me Sister ran out and both Betty Is A Lady and Twin Plan fell. Lonesome Dove was another casualty at the very next fence.

Carrigeen Lechuga (10/1), who carries the colours of Lalor's mother Ann, had just taken up the running when both Definite Class and Gerdalia blundered at the second last.

Lalor’s mount made the best of her way home from this point, although Definite Class (5/1) did rally, and had a length and a half to spare at the line.

The evens favourite Dare To Doubt continued a disappointing afternoon for the Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh combination. She jumped pretty well apart from a mistake four out but could find little under pressure in the straight finishing another 13 lengths adrift in third.

Dick Lalor said, “She hates that tacky ground but we were so frustrated that we had to run her. She will come back here in a few weeks time for a three miles mares novice.”