James Doyle makes return from broken collarbone with two rides at Ayr on Wednesday

James Doyle makes a fitting return to action in the colours of his retainers Wathnan Racing at Ayr on Wednesday after just over a month out with a broken collarbone.

The Classic-winning rider has two mounts at the Scottish track after recovering from the injury he sustained in a fall at the start of a handicap at Chelmsford on April 18.

Doyle missed the English and French Guineas during his absence but did not miss out on any big winners for Wathnan Racing, who are again focusing on Royal Ascot next month where they enjoyed four victories in 2024.

Doyle has been using the Injured Jockeys Fund facility at Sir Peter O’Sullevan House in Newmarket in recent weeks to speed his recovery and also rode in a racecourse gallop for Charlie Appleby on the Rowley Mile last Friday.

He said: “It’s a massive help having something like O’Sullevan House on our doorstep and I’ve been in there for three hours most days. I’ve been back riding out for a few days and had a racecourse gallop with Charlie which was good and everything feels good at the moment.”

James Doyle at the Rowley Mile on Friday

He added: “There is never a good time to get injured but Royal Ascot is our big target and thankfully I wasn’t out longer.”

Doyle makes his return 372 miles away from his home near Newmarket on the west coast of Scotland, where he has two rides for Archie Watson including the Wathnan-owned newcomer Underwriter in the 6f two-year-old maiden.

He added: “It’s just the way it’s worked out. We have quite a few breeze-up horses to sort out before Ascot so it’s just a matter of finding the right slots. Archie won a similar race with Electrolyte [who went on to be second in the Coventry Stakes] at Ayr last year so he’s going back.”

On Thursday, Doyle is going over to France to renew acquaintance with Haatem, who he steered to success in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and runs in a Listed event at Longchamp.

He said: “I’m looking forward to getting back on Haatem. He'll have needed his comeback run behind Dancing Gemini at Sandown and this is a drop in class. This looks a nice slot for him.”

Read more . . .

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