New mum Carrie Ford earned her place in jumps racing's record books as she sailed to success over the fearsome Grand National fences just ten and a half weeks after giving birth to a daughter.

The 32-year-old, who had 5lb 10oz Hannah on January 18, made virtually all to take the Martell Cognac Fox Hunters Chase on 13-2 chance Forest Gunner, trained by her husband Richard.

But having come out of retirement to ride the winner, she insisted that only the prospect of partnering this horse in next year's Grand National could persuade her to return to the saddle.

Only the third woman to win the Fox Hunters Chase, Mrs Ford soon had Forest Gunner prominent after he had made an early mistake at the second fence.

Going on at the Canal Turn, the pair were soon clear of their rivals, who were headed by Dam The Breeze.

Only Sikander A Azam came from the rear to look a possible threat from that point, but Forest Gunner kept on gamely to maintain his advantage, eventually scoring by eight lengths.

Gun'N Roses II ran a remarkable race to finish a further seven lengths back in third, having made a host of mistakes.

''I know nobody will believe me, but we really only started to discuss this a couple of weeks ago,'' said Mrs Ford after the race.

''I was running and swimming and feeling fine and I had a spin on the Flat at Doncaster with today in mind, then a warm-up over hurdles at Huntingdon on Sunday on one of ours - and I won.

''It nearly went very pear-shaped at the second when he made a bad mistake, but that made him think a bit about it, and he was brilliant from then on. It was easier than childbirth!

''I wouldn't have come back if he was the sort of Deano's Beeno-type of horse who needed a lot of riding. But this horse is so generous and such a good traveller that I thought I could do it.

''Some of my family, including 'Fordy', weren't too happy about me riding again and were probably worrying all the way round.

''I really did pack up last season and this was never the plan, but the silks are staying on the peg now.

''The only thing that could persuade me to try otherwise is if this horse improved enough pounds to go for the big one and Richard McGrath was riding something else.''

At this news, husband Richard, who also won this race as a jockey when Rolling Ball scored in 1996, heaved an enormous sigh.

''I can't really be too uncomfortable about it because I like riding motorbikes around the Isle Of Man at 160mph, but I hope she retires now,'' he said.

''There is no comparison between riding and watching. I stood next to the statue of the 'old horse' and watched it on the big screen and merrily chain-smoked all the way round. I'm not sure if my lungs could take it again.

''We were both frog-marched around the course before the race by Neale Doughty (National-winning rider on Hallo Dandy in 1984) and she rode exactly the same way - down the outside early on for some daylight, then up the rails all the way after that.

''I am chuffed to bits for Carrie and delighted for the owner, John Gilsenan, as he went to look at two horses in the field bred by Reg Crank and he chose this one - the other was Iris's Gift!''

The 100 members of the Grand National Racing Club enjoyed the thrill of seeing their colours carried into second place by Sikander A Azam.

And Paul Keane, the trainer of Gun'N Roses II, insisted that he would be back next year for a tilt at the National itself.

''We'll start planning tomorrow morning,'' he said. ''The ground beat him today.''

Iris's Gift confirmed his position as this season's champion staying hurdler with an impressive win in the Martell Cognac Laurel Pub Company Liverpool Hurdle.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner followed up his Cheltenham victory over Baracouda with another battling performance to see off the challenge of Royal Rosa.

Barry Geraghty settled his mount in second on the outside as the enigmatic Deano's Beeno jumped off as a very reluctant pacemaker.

The seven-year-old was always cruising along before taking up the lead on the second circuit and upping the pace turning for home.

Royal Rosa went with him as Geraghty kicked on, and he threw down a serious challenge approaching the last, but a magnificent leap from the 4-7 favourite gave him the momentum to keep his head in front.

The pair had a thrilling fight up the run-in and Iris's Gift held on gamely to win by a length and a half, with Aine Dubh a further five lengths back in third.

O'Neill said: ''He's a very tough horse. He's the one we dream of all the time. He's really tough and genuine and a good jumper as well.

''After Cheltenham he was a bit quiet for a couple of days, but then he was back to his old self. He was flying again within three or four days.''

Iris's Gift is a 5-2 chance for the Stayers' Hurdle next season with Ladbrokes, but he could switch to fences.