Carberry will miss On The Fringe but thrilled to be expecting first child

Nina Carberry admits it will not be easy watching On The Fringe whizzing around Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in the spring but is "absolutely thrilled" to be expecting her first child with husband Ted Walsh, younger brother of Ruby.

Carberry took to Twitter on Thursday night to announce that she is pregnant but we have not seen the last of the 32-year-old in the saddle as she is keen to return to race-riding when the time is right.

"I'm certainly not shutting the door on returning to race-riding," Carberry told the Racing Post. "I'm absolutely thrilled to be expecting my first child and Ted is thrilled too. It's great news and we're both so excited.

"Don't get me wrong, it won't be easy watching some of the horses I might be riding but this will be totally different to watching them if I was injured. That is painful. This time I'll be watching racing with a smile on my face knowing we're expecting a baby. It's a lovely feeling."

Carberry did not hesitate when asked who she will miss most.

"Definitely On The Fringe," she replied. "He has been a wonderful horse for my career. We've shared some magical memories together and he still seems to be as good as ever. He's an absolute star and whoever gets to ride him will be very lucky indeed.

"I'll miss Josies Orders too and Noel [Meade] has some smashing bumper horses to come out but there'll be another crop of bumper horses next season, so I'm not too downbeat about that. I'm really excited about the months ahead and entering a new chapter of my life."

Carberry was twice crowned champion amateur in Ireland and her finest moment arrived in the 2011 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse when she won on Organisedconfusion for her uncle Arthur Moore.

Three who will be missed by Carberry

On The Fringe

He might be turning 12 soon but the King of the Foxhunters is like a fine wine and seems to be getting better with age. He has won at all three spring festivals – Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown – in each of the last two seasons and it will take something special to prevent him from repeating the feat next spring. Carberry knows him inside out and has excelled on him umpteen times. Jamie Codd, who deputised for her at Aintree in April, is the one likely to get the call-up once again.

Josies Orders

Awarded the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase after Any Currency was found to have a prohibited substance in his system and, at the age of eight, the son of Milan could have years of success ahead of him at his favourite game. He is ante-post favourite to make a successful defence of his Cross Country crown and will take some stopping.

Minella Fair

A brother to Time For Rupert who runs in the bumper at Navan on Sunday. He was second in his sole point at Mainstown last November and received a favourable mention from Sean Flanagan after he got the job as number one rider to Noel Meade. Could have a bright future ahead and is likely to be one of the many bumper winners Carberry will miss over the coming months.