Top conditional Rex Dingle set to return after four months on the sidelines

Conditional jockey Rex Dingle could return to riding on Tuesday after completing his recovery from the neck injury which led to a spell of more than four months on the sidelines.

The fracture to his C7 vertebra, sustained in a fall aboard the Anthony Honeyball-trained Soulsaver at Ffos Las in May, put the brakes on a promising start to the season for Dingle, who had ridden three winners and was looking like a leading contender for the conditional jockeys' title on the back of a successful campaign in 2018-19.

Speaking on Friday, Dingle said: "In a way I was lucky in the time of year that it happened as I haven't had to miss a whole load of rides and I'm now coming to the bulk of the season.

"I've been riding out for about two weeks now and I might possibly be riding next Tuesday for Jeremy Scott, but most of Anthony's horses won't be out until next month so that will be when the action steps up."

The C7 vertebra is located in the lower portion of the neck, and Dingle admitted it took some time for the severity of the injury to sink in.

"It was never overly sore," the jockey said. "I had pins and needles in my arms for a good while after. To be honest I didn't realise how serious it was until a few weeks after I'd come out of hospital and I spoke to the physios.

"I thought the rehab would be very straightforward but it takes a lot of work. I've been at Oaksey House for a long time doing rehab there, which has been brilliant, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the team there."

Rex Dingle and Morney Wing en route to London National success at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

In his first full season in 2018-19 Dingle enjoyed a breakout campaign, riding 32 winners, ten of which came for Honeyball. The highlight was victory aboard the Charlie Mann-trained Morney Wing in the London National at Sandown in December.

Looking to the season ahead, Dingle added: "Anthony's got loads of very nice young horses to look forward to this year, the team looks really strong. Then there's the likes of Morney Wing to ride for Charlie Mann as well as some exciting rides for Jeremy Scott."

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