Dina's set to give Sandown a blast

In the Seventies and Eighties, she was sending out the likes of Janus and Shiny Copper to land some of racing's most sought after prizes.

But 12 years ago Smith gave it all up and handed in her licence.

She eventually returned to the training ranks last spring and sent out her first comeback winner when Cork Harbour raced home at Brighton in September.

Now she has put herself firmly back in racing's spotlight by landing the biggest prize for a Sussex stable this season, the Imperial Cup at Sandown.

Her five-year-old Ibal, ridden by Sussex jockey Ben Hitchcott, not only took the £23,000 first prize but rewarded punters who backed him in to 16-1 from a morning show of 25s.

It was also the biggest success of 20-year-old Hitchcott's career and he now has his sights firmly set on winning the amateur riders' championship.

He is currently racing head to head with Tom Scudamore, son of former champion jockey turned BBC commentator Peter.

Hitchcott sent Ibal to the front of the 23-strong Imperial Cup field as it ran down the back straight.

The partnership stayed on strongly up the Sandown hill to deny Valiramix and champion jockey Tony McCoy by seven lengths.

It was Ibal's second success for Smith, who trains just seven horses near Arundel, since being transferred from Paul Nicholls' Somerset yard.

The horse won at Leicester in January but had disappointed on his latest run when only third at Fontwell.

Following Ibal's success, Hitchott had high hopes of completing a big race double at Sandown when partnering Real Value for Sussex trainer Gardie Grissell.

The ten-year-old chaser had won over the course and distance on his previous run but a 7lb rise in the weights, compounded by some less than accurate jumping, meant a follow-up was never on the cards.

Despite Hitchcott's efforts, Real Value gave punters, who backed him into 11-4 from 7-2, little to cheer about and he eventually trailed home third, 31 lengths behind winner Picket Piece.