Rider Gavin Sheehan is set to return to the track at Cheltenham this weekend and is excited to be teaming up with Cheltenham festival winner Simply The Betts in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday.
Sheehan had been on the sidelines since breaking his right wrist in a fall at Perth in September, but after a successful period of recovery at Oaksey House, The Irishman is now fully rehabilitated and ready to get back to work.
Across the three day meeting at Cheltenham this weekend the rider has a handful of stand out rides including Simply The Betts who he rode to victory at the 2020 festival in the Brown Advisory Plate and big Champion Chase fancy Rouge Vif in the Shloer Chase on Sunday.
The doctors have given Sheehan the all clear after the wire inserted during the operation was taken out of his wrist on Monday and although taking things easy, he was never going to miss this book of rides.
Simply The Betts - the favourite delivers in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2020
Congratulations on your first Festival winner, @Harry_Whitt. A third, second and winner from three runners here this week! #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TMBCqCQQpN
(Credit Racing Post) He said: "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.
"Now they've taken the wire out it's given me a lot more movement. It means I can sit back on a horse now and crack on. I'm going to ride out tomorrow and do plenty of work at Oaksey House."
Sheehan has admitted he is in a very privileged position coming back from injury right into a great scenario being able to ride the likes of Rouge Vif and Grade One winner Itchy Feet throughout the season, still being the retained rider for Kate and Andrew Brooks.
Although being able to ride the latter horses he is most excited to getting back on Simply The Betts having partnered him to his win at the Cheltenham festival.
He added: "He was the main reason why I was down at Oaksey House every day. 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."