BELFAST jockey Pat McWilliams made a dream return to racing after a two and a quarter year lay off when he steered the 20 to 1 chance, The Third Man, to victory in the Bet With the Tote Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal yesterday.
Back in 1991 McWilliams made a name for himself when riding Destriero to victory at Cheltenham after having also won the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown on the Illiad. Then two years later, McWilliams was struck down by diabetes. He lost his licence and it was thought at the time that he would never race again.
However, after over two years in the wilderness, McWilliams received a clean bill of health two weeks ago when his licence was renewed and yesterday was his first ride on a racecourse since then.
The Third Man, who is trained near Down Royal by Ian Duncan, seemed to have little chance of winning with two hurdles to go when Nordic Heir went into what appeared to be a winning lead.
However, McWilliams kept plugging away on The Third Man and gradually cut down Nordic Heir's lead to win by a length.
"It's been a wonderful day for me he said. "There were times when I thought I would never see a racecourse again, but this win has made up for those years when I was on the sidelines. I hope to have many more successes.
McWilliams almost made it a double when riding Green Glen in the Smirnoff Handicap Chase. In the lead after the last, Green Glen was just run out of it by If You Believe, trained in Co Antrim by Harry Smyth, who owns a car repair firm. "You can't have everything" McWilliams said as he came in to another loud cheer of approval from the packed crowd.
Over The Maine won his first hunter chase after having scored in three point to points when taking the Gowla Breeders WE Rooney Memorial Race after it looked as though See Just There had it wrapped up two fences from home. See Just There lost his chance with a mistake at the last fence and Over the Maine went on to score for county Antrim trainer, Ian Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Newbridge based permit holder Monica Dowdall Blake saddled her first winner under rules at Limerick yesterday, when Theprincess Manhar landed the Shannon Maiden Hurdle under David Bean.
Despite drifting from 3 to 1 to 9 to 2 the daughter of Prince Rubert had her task eased when well supported favourite Speedboard, partnered by Francis Flood, ran out before the halfway stage when leading the field.
Man of Arran attracted good support for the Thomond Handicap Hurdle from 6 to 1 to 9 to 2 and the top weight under John Shortt stayed on relentlessly to hold the favourite Hakkinen and Trevor Horgan by threequarters of a length.
Winning trainer Pat O'Leary said: "He is entered at Clonmel on Saturday and we'll see about that, but he will concentrate on the flat for the summer months." . Conditional jockey Gary Cahill put his whip away at Newcastle yesterday and displayed his burgeoning skills with a double aboard Rallegio and Executive Design.
Executive Design, carrying top weight, responded well to his jockey's urgings - Cahill appeared to wave his stick just once - to catch Fassa on the run in and score by a neck in the Northern Electric Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final.
Cahill teed up his double with an astute waiting race on Rallegio in the Welcome To Timeform Novices' Hurdle.
