Dobbin on sidelines after accident

Tony Dobbin has given up his five booked rides at Musselburgh today after a nasty incident at Wetherby.

Dobbin was lucky to escape serious injury when Royal Variety lashed out and caught him on his right thigh in the unsaddling enclosure following the ‘Derwent’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Yorkshire track yesterday.

Dobbin fell to the ground and was clearly in a lot of pain, but after being looked at by the doctor he was helped to his feet and back to the weighing-room.

Although nothing was broken, Dobbin’s agent Richard Hale confirmed he will miss today’s action and is also likely to sit out tomorrow too.

“He’s OK but he’s just a bit sore across the front of his thighs,” he said. “It’s nothing too serious but he’s just not 100 per cent today. I expect he’ll be back on either Friday or Saturday.”

Hale also revealed that Dobbin is not going to take the ride on Jonjo O’Neill’s expensive new recruit Specular at Haydock on Saturday.

The eight-year-old gelding is due to contest the Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle on what will be his British debut after JP McManus bought him from Australia.

Specular racked up a string of impressive wins in his native country but Liam Cooper is now set to take the mount.

“Tony doesn’t ride him. Whatever Liam was due to ride doesn’t run so he takes over as he’s stable jockey. It’s disappointing for Tony, but that’s racing,” Hale said.