Pulborough trainer Dina Smith, who returned to training after a gap of 12 years, saddled the first jumping winner of her renewed career at Leicester on Monday.

Ibal trotted up by six lengths in a novice hurdle in the hands of Andrew Thornton, who had just ridden his 400th winner.

The success was deserved as Mrs Smith had sent the five-year-old up to Uttoxeter in Staffordshire last Saturday, only to have the race abandoned because of a bomb scare.

Earlier Ibal lost two opportunities to run when he was balloted out at Taunton and Newbury was abandoned.

Smith said: "It was wonderful to get a run, let alone a winner, and it was a worry that the long journey to Staffordshire and back on Saturday may have taken too much out of him."

Ibal was not the first success for her since renewing her licence. Early in October, Cork Harbour won on the flat for her at Brighton.