Wilson delight after riding first winner since cancer scare

Royal Ascot threw up plenty of stories, but few could match the feelgood factor of Laura Wilson's victory on Our Kylie in the lady amateur riders' Derby at Ripon last week – her first ride since being diagnosed with cancer last year.

Wilson, head girl for Our Kylie's trainer Brian Ellison, had hoped to return to action in the Queen Mother's Cup at York, which she won in 2015 on Apterix, but was nonetheless delighted to have made her comeback ride a winning one.

The 34-year-old, who has got the all-clear from her doctor, said: "I got diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and had to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which I finished in October and the doctors said if it was going to come back it would have done by now.

"I couldn't ride in races, but still went to work and rode out and Brian was brilliant. It took a while for my licence to go through because the BHA were really thorough about everything, but I kept going to the gym and running, hoping Brian would give me a ride, and bless him he put up for the Queen Mother's Cup this year, but the ground was too firm for our horse.

Laura Wilson: may be in action at York on Saturday

"I was gutted, but he put Our Kylie in at Ripon and she went and won. She was perfect. It was quite emotional because my mum, dad and sister were there, but it was also an amazing day."

Wilson's next opportunity could come on the Ellison-trained Green Light if he runs at York on Saturday, although he also has options at Newcastle.