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Landmark success for Lalor just weeks after giving birth

Liz Lalor Liz Lalor
© Healy Racing Photos

Liz Lalor enjoyed a landmark success on Sunday at Nenagh point-to-point, partnering her 100th winner 'between the flags'.

All the more remarkable, it was her initial ride back since giving birth to her first born, a baby girl named Alex, just over five weeks ago.

The seven-time champion point-to-point lady rider partnered Cloudy Morning to victory at Nenagh, with this Declan Queally trained eleven-year-old coming home two lengths to the good from B L Swagger in second.

Lalor now has her sights firmly set on becoming the most successful lady rider in point-to-point history, with Helen Bryce-Smith the current record holder on 106 wins.

"I never had any doubt that I would return to the saddle, because I want to break the record," Lalor revealed.

This determination is hardly surprising, given the fact the Tipperary native recovered from a serious injury she suffered at Athlacca point-to-point in May of 2012.

"I had a bleed on the brain after that fall. It was a serious injury but it was grand for me because I didn't know what was going on!

"It wasn't nice for anyone looking on, but thankfully I returned to the saddle, and had my first ride back at Leopardstown over Christmas in 2012.

"I always wanted to get back riding, but I just failed the concussion test a few times. As I said it was grand for me though because I didn't remember anything about the fall. I couldn't remember anything of it."

Sunday was made even more special when Lalor's partner Tom Keating trained a winner at Knockanard, with Pay Later getting off the mark on his sixth start under Jamie Scallan.

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.