David Casey has been told he will not lose the ride on Hulysse Royal, the horse whose controversial defeat at Kempton last month saw the jockey hit with a 14-day suspension.
Oliver Sherwood has given Casey, his stable jockey since the start of the season, a vote of confidence in the aftermath of the incident that saw Hulysse Royal pipped at the post by Audacter after being eased down.
Sherwood today said: "As far as I am concerned he will ride the horse the next time he is able to ride."
Casey's ban runs to February 15th so the Irishman would miss Hulysse Royal's possible return at Wetherby on Saturday.
Sherwood has a choice of the Grade Two Totty Construction Group plc Novices' Hurdle or the Richard Whiteley Handicap Hurdle in which the horse would carry top weight of 12st.
However the gelding would run only if the trainer is satisfied he has fully recovered from the race at Kempton, after which the five-year-old was reported to have tied up with stomach cramp.
Sherwood said: "I'm waiting for tests later on this week. If his muscle enzymes are high then he obviously wouldn't run. So I won't make my mind up until tomorrow or Friday morning."
