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Smiling Robbie Dunne celebrates first winner back after bully ban with baby daughter at Hereford

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SMILING Robbie Dunne returned to the saddle with a welcome winner at Hereford.

The jockey had been on the sidelines since he was banned for 10 months for bullying Bryony Frost.

Dunne picked up his prize from four-time champ Richard Johnson

On his very first ride back, he steered Ernesto to a narrow victory for his old pal Ian Williams.

Relieved Dunne celebrated by taking his baby daughter Ava Mae on to the podium to collect his prize from four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Ernesto looked beat on the turn into the straight, but Dunne managed to find another gear on the run for home.

He edged out Nico De Boinville on 6-4 favourite Jen’s Boy in the dying strides.

The Irishman was only able to return to action after his original ban of 18 months was reduced to 10 on appeal.

Dunne has not said anything since he was found guilty of bullying Frost and again decided against speaking to reporters at the track yesterday.

But Ernesto’s owner, Colin Mander, said: “Everybody deserves second chances in life – that is all I want to say.

“It’s nice to see him back and back on a winner.”

The 36-year-old had two other rides on the card for trainers Gary Hanmer and Neil Mulholland.

He was beaten into fourth on Molliana for Mulholland.

Frost also returned with a winner on Sunday after she had been off injured since April.

Frost made her first ride back from Aintree a winning one at Goodwood on Sunday

The pair are likely to meet on the track in the coming weeks as the jumps season clicks into gear.

Weighing room veteran Sam Twiston-Davies said: “Obviously it is great to see him have a winner.

“Everyone gets on with everyone at the end of the day. It is was nice to see Bryony have her first winner after an injury and then Robbie back from his ban.

“At the end of the day, he is a very well-liked member of the weighing room, as is Bryony, and it is nice to have them back riding winners.

“The weighing room is a different place. But at the end of the day we all have to try and work together and beat each other.

“A happy medium, everyone get along and have some fun along the way, and long may it continue.”

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