Tom Eaves looking for next star as he returns from 'very frustrating' injury

Tom Eaves admits filling the void left by Glass Slippers and Brando will be tough this season as he returns to action on Sunday following a longer-than-expected injury absence.

The jockey has been kept from racing after suffering a complicated ankle injury in a heavy fall at Lingfield on New Year's Eve on the ill-fated Dream Tale.

He makes his comeback with three "each-way chances" at Southwell – Copake (1.57), The Game Of Life (2.32) and Gustav Graves (4.52) – and is hoping to land on some star talent in the coming months to replace the Kevin Ryan-trained pair of Glass Slippers and Brando, who were retired at the end of last season.

"I'm looking forward to getting back and I'm raring and ready to go after riding out for the last two weeks," said Eaves.

"It's been very frustrating – I've never done an ankle before and they're hard things to get right. At first I thought it was a simple fracture to my right ankle, but after further MRI scans it turned out to be damage to the talus bone and ligaments and I was in a boot and on crutches for six weeks.

"I've been in Jack Berry House every day for three months and I'd like to thank all the team there as well as Dr Jerry Hill and foot-specialist James Stanley."

Eaves claimed three of his five top-level victories on Glass SlippersCredit: John Voorhees

Eaves, who rode his first winner in 1999 and enjoyed his best campaign in 2011 with 93 victories, has won five races at the highest level that included three on Glass Slippers and one on Brando.

He said: "It's going to be tougher from now on as Glass Slippers has gone to stud and Brando has retired. They were both great horses to me and that day at the Breeders' Cup [with Glass Slippers] was amazing – I was very lucky to ride them.

"I'm eager to work hard and get as many winners on the board and hopefully a nice horse will come along soon."

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