It’s been a turbulent few months for Molly Gunn, who suffered a serious leg injury alongside a ban for testing positive for cocaine. In December, Gunn was found to have breached Rule (K)49 following a Raceday sample. Gunn subsequently categorically denied the claim, but to make matters worse, the very next day she suffered a severe lower leg and ankle fracture.
Gunn returned to action last month, beaten a length and a half on Magna for her boss Tony Carroll. It was a welcome return to the winners enclosure on Wednesday. Gunn won on River Wharfe for Tony Carroll on their home patch at Brighton.
The ten-year-old was winless in his last six starts, before dropping back into classified company in good style. Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, via the Racing Post, Gunn said: “It’s been a tough six months. And to be back here especially at the Brighton festival for Tony on one of his horses, means a lot. Hopefully it’s the end of a bit of a nightmare and we can look forward. It’ll all be good from now on.”
Connections bid to strike while the iron’s hot as River Wharfe lines up again at Brighton on Thursday.
Charli Parker records a welcome winner
Another female jockey who enjoyed a welcome winner on Wednesday was Charli Parker. Parker fell on Star Start at Ripon last August, and has rode just five times since. Poignantly, her first winner was on Star Start who took an Amateur Jockey Handicap at Pontefract.
The six year old raced in rear throughout, before making headway on the bend. Parker came around runners, and picked off her rivals with relative ease. Star Start has won four times for Ruth Carr, each of them under Parker and now twice in the Pontefract contest.
Charli Parker told Racing TV, via the Racing Post: “After the fall I was concussed and had a few vestibular issues. A massive credit to Jack Berry House, who have looked after me no end. And I don’t think I’d be back without them.
Ruth Carr followed her, saying: “I bought him from Rebecca Menzies and she gave me the nod that he’d suit me. He’s been an absolute superstar for the job.
“Everybody’s putting in the graft, and it’s a team effort. If people are prepared to put the work in, I’m prepared to help them.”