FAIRYHOUSE REPORT: MATT O'CONNOR rode his first winner since returning to the saddle following a life-threatening injury when steering home Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse yesterday.

O’Connor made a miraculous recovery after sustaining head injuries at Thurles in March. He spent several weeks in intensive care yet was back in action in October.

And his fairytale return was finally complete with victory on Kimberlite King in the Beginners Chase. The 4 to 5 favourite, trained by Colm Murphy, comfortably beat Errit Lake by five lengths. “I’m 110 per cent relieved to have finally had a winner again – I must have had 10 seconds since my return and I came here today wondering which horse would beat us,” said O’Connor.

“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.”

Murphy said of the winner: “Heavy ground is the key to him and, while we’ll have to wait and see what the handicapper does with him, he probably isn’t good enough to run in the better novice chases and may go handicapping now.”

Ruby Walsh enjoyed a 16 to 1 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 to 11 favourite) earned a 16 to 1 quote for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after his storming success in the Cheltenham Bumper Series Flat Race.