Ruby Walsh made a winning return to British racing when striking on the Paul Nicholls-trained Fistral Beach (5-2 favourite) in the bet365 Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

Walsh reacted furiously after being given a five-day suspension for breaking the new whip rules at Aintree last Saturday, and has promised to make his trips from Ireland less frequent for ordinary races.

Having swerved Chepstow on Tuesday, Walsh said: “It was a good prize, I thought it was worth coming over for and Paul did too.

“Likewise today, I’ve got some good rides, Poquelin and What A Friend, and then there is the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday.

“These are good races. I never said I wouldn’t be coming for these sort of races.

“It is the ordinary races I will have to weigh up and see what the story is.

“It’s like a soccer player being on a yellow card and not wanting to miss the European Cup final.”

Walsh has appealed against the ban he picked up at Aintree, with the hearing set to take place at British Horseracing Authority headquarters in London on Thursday.

He said: “After Thursday, maybe things might change, I would not appeal if I didn’t think I had a case.”