Dolan on comeback

SYDNEY jockey Robbie Dolan is confident he will be back in the saddle in time for spring despite suffering a setback last week in his recovery from for an “excruciating” arm injury.

Dolan, a two-time Sydney champion apprentice, has been sidelined since May 8 when he last rode at Gosford.

A nerve issue, known as brachial neuritis, in the left arm of the affable Irishman has kept the talented hoop out of the saddle for the final three months of the season.

He has battled severe pain as well as a lack of mobility and strength in his arm and required treatment with steroids to address the area of concern.

The treatment provided Dolan with confidence to return to trackwork for the first time last week, however, the young gun unfortunately had to pull the pin after just one morning back at Randwick.

“I thought I was ready and it was coming right but it flared up again which is really disappointing,” Dolan said.

“It’s basically a nerve issue and I’ve had excruciating pain in my arm.

“It has been hard to straighten my arm and I have been losing a lot of strength in it so they needed to give me steroid infusions.

“All of it was on my left side but, suddenly, the last couple of days it started again on my right-hand side so I’ve booked in again for a steroid infusion to tick me over.”

While disappointed, Dolan remains confident a return to the saddle is still on the horizon in the coming weeks.

He is determined to get back in time to play a part in the upcoming Sydney Spring Carnival, which kicks off with the Group 2 Missile Stakes on August 7 at Rosehill.