Kitty Galore has them in trouble in behind© Photo Healy Racing
Kevin Brouder got a kick out of winning the extended two mile five mares' handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe on front-running Kitty Galore (7/1) after a long spell on the sidelines.
He suffered hip and femur injuries from a fall at Tipperary in mid-July last year and only returned to the saddle at the start of September.
Kitty Galore hadn't been seen on the racetrack since December, but was lacking nothing in fitness as she made all and soon moved clear. Heading out on the final circuit she was well over 20 lengths clear.
She still held an advantage of over 15 lengths on the field after two out but the gap began to reduce when Influential Lady stayed on up the hill approaching the last.
The pursuer made a slight mistake at the last and could make no impression in the straight as Kitty Galore ran on well to win by a comprehensive nine and a half lengths from the runner-up (4/1f). Molly Wedger was another 11 lengths adrift in third at 8/1.
Trainer John Ryan said: "She was as high as 127 over fences at one point, so we fancied her this evening off 104.
"She injured her fetlock joint at Limerick last Christmas and I must thank Fethard Equine Hospital. They put two screws in her fetlock.
"This is a good mare. Her half-sister won a bumper for Mark Molloy at Down Royal recently. She hadn't run in 200 days but I had her really right today and I was confident.
"She's in at Sligo next week but we might wait for Listowel. She's well capable of getting black type before too long."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
