Ray Cochrane made the best-possible return to riding action when Glowing took the Fund For Addenbrooke's Fillies' Handicap at Newmarket this evening.
The race had an extra touch of poignancy for the rider as it was named after the hospital where he and Frankie Dettori spent the days after the plane crash that could have killed them both on June 1.
It was Cochrane's first ride in public since the crash in which he suffered injuries to his back, arms and face after attempting unsuccessfully to rescue pilot Patrick Mackey.
The well-backed 7-4 favourite looked in trouble at the halfway stage with nowhere to go. But as a gap arrived with just over a furlong to run, Cochrane galvanised the mare into a flying finish that saw her get up by half a length from Carinthia.
The knowledgeable crowd thronged the winner's enclosure to show their support for the rider, who will be back in action at the same course tomorrow.
Cochrane told Sky Sports: 'You always think they can win but you don't think it's going to happen. It's been a great day.'
Speaking about his recovery, he said: 'You've just got to try to keep your mind occupied. As soon as I was out of hospital, I was walking two or three miles a day, which increased to five as I got better.
'I was only coming up tonight to pass the doctor for tomorrow, and James (Fanshawe, the winning trainer) said that I might as well ride this one.
'Addenbrooke's are very short of funds and they did a great job looking after me and Frankie. It's great to get right behind them.
'I'm going to take it pretty steady. I'll only be riding at one meeting a day and I have to go back to Addenbrooke's on Monday for a check on the eye!'
Dettori is hoping to make his comeback at York's Ebor meeting, which begins on August 22.
