Sue Bramall may be in love with Ireland but she is still keen to make forays to her homeland as emphasised by the success of Bangabunny at Carlisle today.
He made light of the strong winds and driving rain to defeat three rivals in the Pioneer Foods Millennium Handicap Chase.
Partnered by John Cullen, who was riding at the track for the first time, Bangabunny made a lot of the running.
The 2-1 shot looked under threat at the last but pulled away again to defeat Fassan by five lengths to follow up his victory at Kelso last month.
Bramall moved to a base in County Wexford four years ago after training near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.
"I've made something like six trips back across to Britain this season and I'll certainly be coming back again," she said. "But I'm not planning to move from Ireland - I like it too much."
Bramall stables her horses at the Thornton Stud, near Thirsk, when she makes her British raids.
"It's simply lack of opportunities in Ireland that makes me bring them over here," she said.
"This horse finished second seven times last season and he kept getting beaten by Cheltenham horses. The problem is there are few races for second class horses in Ireland."
Tom George made the long trip from Slad, in Gloucestershire, worthwhile when Who Dares Wins, the trainer's first runner at the track, obliged in the Rockcliffe Novices' Chase.
The fencing debutant, providing Rupert Wakley with his first jumping winner at Carlisle, put his stamina to good use to defeat Running Moss in the Rockcliffe Novices' Chase.
George completed a 59½-1 double when River Slave took the concluding Mail on Sunday Hands 'n' Heels Standard National Hunt Flat Race.
Who Dares Wins was racing for the first time for George, having previously been in the care of Jonjo O'Neill.
"He was sent to me a couple of months ago," he said. "We've done a lot of work with him on various problems and it's paid off.
"He looked like he was crying out for fences and that's why we sent him chasing immediately."
Henry Daly was another to get on the scoresheet for the first time at Carlisle when his first runner at the track Briery Ann secured the EBF Panacur Guard Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle.
The 14-1 shot - Lorcan Wyer's only mount of the day - stormed clear from the final flight to defeat Shuildante by seven lengths.
Malcolm Jefferson is a regular visitor to Carlisle and he added to his tally when Stone Beck outstayed the opposition in the Tote Top of The North Novices' Hurdle.
The mare may now be aimed at the final of the series, a £10,000-added handicap, at Newcastle on Saturday week.
Alistair Whillans' string has been hit by the virus so he was much relieved to get off the mark for the season when Palacegate King ground out a victory in the Hethersgill Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
By contrast Norman Mason has struck a purple patch and added to his tally when Red Emperor captured the Stanwix Handicap Chase.
