Paul Carberry back in the saddle and the winner’s enclosure

Paul Carberry enjoyed a dream return to the saddle as he struck gold on two of his first three rides back from injury at Fairyhouse. The much-decorated jumps rider has been sidelined since the end of April with a shoulder injury which required surgery in July.

Following the defection of main market rival Devils Bride, Ally Cascade was the 1-4 favourite for the Premier Jump Weekend Hurdle and the result was scarcely in doubt. Noel Meade’s charge already had the measure of King William when he came to grief at the final obstacle, leaving the market leader to come home 17 lengths clear of Flycorn.

Carberry (39) said: “It’s great to be back. Nina (Carberry, sister) sold the horse to the boys (Gigginstown House Stud), so it’s great to win for her as well. It’s been a long wait. It’s been slow trying to stretch the shoulder, but in the last two weeks it’s improved a good bit.

“Hopefully it keeps going. It felt grand there today.”

Meade said of his rider: “He’s been working hard. A couple of months ago we were worried it wouldn’t come right, but in the last fortnight it’s been getting better and better. Paul caught me a bit by surprise, as I thought he was talking about being back for Sunday, but he rang me yesterday saying he was ready to go today.

“I knew he was close as he was riding a lot of schooling.”

Of the winner, the trainer added: “I’ll have to talk to the owners, but there’s a possibility he might switch to fences. We haven’t schooled him yet, so we’ll have to see. He’s a bit behind as we have to work him on grass as he doesn’t like the all-weather.”

Carberry may well have struck again in the Fairyhouse Membership 2014 Maiden Hurdle, but he parted company with the Gordon Elliott-trained Moonshine Lad at the second-last when still in with every chance. Luckily the jockey escaped unscathed and half an hour later was back in the winner’s enclosure after guiding Elliott’s 2-1 favourite Not For Changing to success in the 25 Punter’s Pack Premier Jump Racing Weekend Handicap Hurdle.

Elliott said: “I thought we might have a double. Paul gave this horse a great ride and never panicked. It’s nice to win for the lads (owners) who are all local. Paul has been with me from the start and it’s great to be able to give him a winner on his first day back.

“This horse has been knocking on the door and hopefully can win another one. It wasn’t soft enough for him the last day, and he just got took off his feet a bit.”

The most impressive performance of the day came in the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Flat Race as champion trainer Willie Mullins unleashed yet another exciting bumper horse. Heavily supported 8-15 favourite Royal Caviar cruised through the contest in the hands of the trainer's son Patrick and showed smart acceleration once popped the question to score by six and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “He’s a fine big chasing type. I’m pleased he could go on that ground as it turned quite soft. I’d imagine he’ll go for a winner’s bumper. Patrick said he pulled quite hard and he was afraid that he hadn’t settled, but he showed plenty of toe. On his pedigree I thought he’d want better ground, but he’s such a strong horse that he handled that today.”