ANOTHER of racing's Prodigal Sons returns to action at Hamilton this afternoon when 15 months of exile finally ends for Tony Culhane.
The former Ayr Gold Cup winning jockey hasn't ridden since April 2007 when he suffered serious neck and back injuries in a fall at Wolverhampton. While still recovering, Culhane was banned for a year by the British Horseracing Authority after being f
ound guilty of aiding or abetting individuals to lay or back horses with the benefit of inside information.
Fellow rider Dean Mernagh was also banned, in his case for nine months, while Culhane's brother-in-law and former jump jockey Gary Lyons was warned off for two years and his father-in-law Dave Watkins for a minimum of five.
"I'm looking forward to it," said the 39-year-old of his comeback at the Lanarkshire track. "It's been a long time, I'm raring to go and for the first time for a long time I've got no injuries. I just want to get the first winner under my belt, get busy, and ride for the people I enjoy riding for, those I've been riding for for a lot of years.
"My usual people seem to be sticking by me and that's all I can ask for," added Culhane who admitted to being reckless but denied being corrupt at the BHA hearing that led to his suspension.
Of his two mounts today, Grit looks to offer him the better chance of a winning return in the Bill And David McHarg Memorial Handicap.
It's a very tight little contest however with most of the field looking to hold some sort of chance including, hopefully, our selection Castlebury.
The Alan Swinbank trained top-weight was well beaten last time out but that was his first attempt at ten furlongs, a trip he didn't appear to stay.
Dropped back to a mile, Robert Winston can steer the gelding to a first success.
Culhane also gets the leg up on another Mick Channon performer in Deer Daylami but it's harder to make a case for his chances, particularly with Wells Lyrical in opposition.
Bryan Smart's colt is in danger of falling into the 'expensive to follow' bracket but his last time out second at Thirsk is the best form in the race and something similar should finally get him off the mark.
If the claimer goes the way the handicapper's ratings says it should, Harry Up is the one to be on, but things frequently don't work out quite as neatly as planned so we'll go with Guest Connections.
What a Fella and Westport can bring up a Scottish double for Andrew Mullen and Campbell Gillies while Paddy Jack will land the finale.
Easy, isn't it?
The nap is Closertobelieving who looked to be on the up when landing the best bet a couple of outings ago. He wasn't quite as impressive on his latest start but he got knocked about at a crucial stage that day so deserves a chance to make amends at Sandown this evening.
• William Butler barely broke sweat as he landed a quick-fire four-timer at Uttoxeter yesterday. The eight-year-old has been transformed by the switch to Evan Williams and has now won four times in just 10 days, with young Donal Fahy doing the steering on each occasion.
William Butler was sent off at 8-11 to continue his fine run in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Chase and eased home by 24 lengths from Najca De Thaix.
Connections have him entered in two races at Southwell tomorrow and in two at Market Rasen on Saturday, with the richly-endowed toteswinger Summer Plate dangling a seemingly juicy carrot.
• Brave Inca is back in full work and showing no signs of the slight tendon problem that kept him off the track last season.
Although there is no firm date set for a return to action for the 2006 Champion Hurdle hero, the ten-year-old looks like making his comeback in a two-mile hurdle race.
The full article contains 681 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
