Fairyhouse joy for O'Connor

Young Carlow jockey Matt O'Connor has been enjoying the limelight after riding his first winner since returning to the saddle following a life-threatening injury when steering home Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. The young jockey made a miraculous recovery after sustaining head injuries at Thurles last March. He spent several weeks in intensive care, yet was back in action in October. His return was finally complete with victory on the 4-5 favourite in the 20% Online Discount Beginners Chase, Colm Murphy's charge beating Errit Lake by five lengths. "I'm 110% relieved to have finally had a winner again - I must have had 10 seconds since my return and I came here wondering which horse would beat us," O'Connor told the Press Association. "It was very tough getting back into the swing of race-riding again when I returned and it was only after Christmas that I began to feel right within myself. "I have to thank my family, the people who helped my recovery in Cork hospital and Dun Laoghaire Rehabilitation Centre, Colm Murphy and the horse's owners, who have stayed very loyal to me. I'm just so glad to have had this winner." Last March, he was in a "critical but stable condition" after the Grade 1-winning jockey took a crashing fall in the Beginners Chase at Thurles. 'Strawberry', as he is known to people in the racing fraternity, was immediately knocked unconscious when his mount, Walking Aisy, fell at the fifth-last fence. At Fairyhouse, Ruby Walsh enjoyed a double on Hellyhunter and The Corby Glenn. The Davy Fitzgerald-trained Hellyhunter took the Course Signage At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle by 12 lengths, while The Corby Glenn got home by 10 lengths in the Bobbyjo Bistro Handicap Chase for trainer Ray McGlinchy. The Willie Mullins-trained Bishopsfurze (8-11 favourite) earned a 16-1 quote from William Hill for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham following his storming success in the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper Series Flat Race. He came from miles off the pace under Patrick Mullins to collar Foildubh in the final furlong for a five-length victory.