David Walsh capped his return to race-riding with a winner at Worcester yesterday after two years in the wilderness.

He partnered the Ginger McCain-trained Eben Al Habeeb to a four-length victory over Galways Granite in the Sara Hodgkins Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase.

Walsh, (24), had been away from racing since 1997 when he failed a random drugs test and was banned for a month. Worcester was also the scene of his first ride back when he was tailed-off on Pull On in the bumper on July 14th. Walsh was suspended just as he was enjoying the best spell of his career by finishing second on Barton Bank in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and winning the Martell Cup at Aintree on the same horse.

The Irishman was clearly delighted with his comeback win.

He said: "It's brilliant to be back. I didn't think my first winner would come so soon.

"I've got my weight under control. I was 12st 7lb before I went to Australia but I'm down to 10st 1lb now.

Meanwhile, Lighthouse, a 200,000 guineas yearling, looked worth every penny when scoring on her long awaited debut in the Salamanca Maiden Stakes at Windsor. The Henry Cecil-trained filly could not have had a more searching test on ground which had taken two-and-a-half inches of rain since Sunday.

However, she quickened to go past the favourite Tarawan, inside the final furlong and win by two-and-a-half lengths.