LIMERICK'S David Hourigan made a successful reappearance in the Beechmount Cup race at Navan yesterday - although he was disqualified for not signing on before the start he was reinstated after an appeal.

Hourigan won the 1992 Manx International but after leading the way at the end of the first stage of the 1994 FBD Milk Ras, from Dublin to Drogheda, a medical test was positive and he was banned.

Now 25, Hourigan said he planned yesterday's comeback since last June. He only put the finishing touches to his bike on Saturday and got a lift up yesterday morning. When he applied for a one-day licence and signed the document, he thought that was sufficient.

A complication arose, however, as Hourigan was given licence number 46 - another Limerick man, Kieran McMahon, also had number 46. Chief commissaire Ann Kinsella disqualified Hourigan after the finish but Hourigan was reinstated on appeal as the winner.

There were 81 starters for the four laps of 18 miles but a group of 16 formed what proved to be the decisive break on the second, lap. The leaders were down to eight after the third time over Tara Hill and on the last lap, at Kilmessan, Hourigan made the winning attack.

Hourigan went on from Adrian Hedderman, Bill Moore, Brendan, Doherty and Brian Lennon as Ian Chivers, Dennis Easton and Michael Smyth faded out. Over the last 12 miles, Hourigan pulled away and at the finish was a minute and nine seconds clear of Hedderman, Moore, Doherty and Lennon, with Chivers almost another two minutes in arrears.