Tony Dobbin returns to race-riding a month earlier than expected at Carlisle today with a low-key comeback on In The Lakes for George Moore in the bumper.
Dobbin had expected to be out until November after having surgery on his dislocated left shoulder in early August.
The Grand National-winning jockey had made a great start to the campaign, riding 27 winners, before dislocating the shoulder at Market Rasen on July 22nd.
'There`s no point in being silly about it. I didn`t think I`d be riding for another month, so I`ve done pretty well. I`m a month ahead of schedule, so I may as well take it steady,' he said.
'I`ll ride at Sedgefield and Wetherby next week and by Kelso next Saturday I`ll be in full swing, hopefully.
'I`ve spoken to people who`ve had the operation - Brian Storey and Neale Doughty - and the operation has come on over the years. I think that`s the main reason I`m back a lot earlier.
'They told me they went through a lot of pain when they had the operation and I never endured as much as them. It`s obviously improved over the years.
'I had to be very steady the first week or two I started riding out again, but I`m schooling a lot of horses now.'
Dobbin is looking forward to riding for his main retainer Penrith trainer Nicky Richards as well as linking up with Carrutherstown handler Len Lungo.
'Nicky`s got a lot of young unexposed horses, who could all do well. And next week I`m going to ride work for Len as I`m going to ride his horses this year.'
