Jockey Gavin Sheehan has been handed the all-clear to renew his partnership with Simply The Betts in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Sheehan has not been in action since breaking his wrist in a fall at Perth back in September, with the injury proving severe enough that he had to undergo an operation.
However, that surgery was a success and he has now confirmed that he has been given the all-clear to resume racing and he has already lined up a potential run at Bangor on Wednesday.
“It went very well. I got the wire taken out and the doctor said the bone is healing very well and that I'm good to go,” Sheehan was quoted as saying by the Racing Post.
“I'm going to ride out tomorrow and do plenty of work at Oaksey House. Hopefully I'll get passed and I'm fit to ride on Wednesday on a nice horse called Easy As That for Venetia Williams.”
Sheehan went on to confirm that his main motivation during his recovery was his desire to ride Simply The Betts in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, having previously enjoyed success at the Cheltenham Festival aboard the Harry Whittington-trained seven-year-old.
“He was the main reason why I was down at Oaksey House every day,” Sheehan added. “I wanted to get back for him. I have a lot of nice horses to look forward to, but he obviously gave me a festival winner.
“In a race like the Paddy Power Gold Cup it'll be nice to make my comeback on him, but it'll be even nicer to win.”
