Whelan's return to saddle from ankle fracture postponed after slow heal

Jockey Trevor Whelan's hopes of returning to the saddle at the end of this month have been dashed as the fractured left ankle he sustained after being unshipped at Chester in September has been slow to heal.

Whelan, 29, who switched to riding on the Flat full-time this year after mixing both codes, revealed he is now targeting a return after Christmas as the earliest date for a return to racecourse action.

He said on Sunday: "The ankle has been slow healing and it's still in a cast for at least another couple of weeks, so I think after Christmas/early new year is now practical for a return to riding.