Winning return for Grant aboard Tropical Mist

Danny Grant returned from injury with a winner on his first ride back, as he partnered Tropical Mist (6/1) to success in the opener at Gowran this evening, the Paulstown Fillies Maiden.

Grant had an operation on his knee last autumn but had been riding in India since. On his last week in India he tore the cartilage in his right knee after receiving a fall when riding out.

He teamed up with fellow Waterford man George Kent for the ride on Tropical Mist and the daughter Marju put in a determined front running display, staying on best in the final furlong to beat the David Wachman trained, 9/2 shot (9/1 this morning and backed on-course from 11/2) Bronte by half a length. Nabat Sultan (5/1) finished a further length and three parts back in third under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast while the 13/8 favourite, Wannabe Better could only manage fourth, half a length back under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack.

The winner finished second to Akira on her debut over the course and distance earlier this month on soft ground and she is out of Tropical Lady, who was owned by Kent and trained by Jim Bolger.

She won eight times in her career, the highlight of which was the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in 2005.

Kent, who runs Custom Cut in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom tomorrow, said afterwards: "She's a homebred filly. We have a breeding operation and we race the fillies and sell the colts.

"This filly will progress and I know they will be telling me at home to try and get some blacktype with her.

"She may go for the fillies handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend next, that is a race her mother (Tropical Lady) won."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee