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By Ray Hickson

It’s been a “tough road back” for jockey Robbie Dolan but the popular Irishman says he’s back near full strength for a return on Wednesday after an unusual arm injury kept him out of the saddle for almost four months.

Dolan was diagnosed with a nerve issue called Brachial Neuritis and he was poked and prodded for quite a while with a range of tests, including steroid infusions, before doctors landed on that diagnosis.

The condition caused him to lose strength in his left arm initially, he couldn’t straighten it and the pain grew more intense as time went on to the point it was unbearable.

Jockey Robbie Dolan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“I had a pain in my arm one day when I was riding, I thought it was a pulled muscle. Then I lost the feeling in the tip of my index finger and I couldn’t straighten the arm,’’ Dolan said.

“I would be laying in bed and it felt like someone was stabbing you in the arm all night. It didn’t matter what painkillers I was getting it wasn’t working.

“At one point I honestly thought I was having a heart attack.”

The problem is now being managed by monthly treatment, which will be eased eventually, and after a small hiccup on his initial return to trackwork in mid-July he’s completed a few weeks of trackwork and barrier trials without any issues.

However, there’ll be no low key return for Dolan as he partners $1.9m colt Profondo in the 1st Crop Magna Grecia Foals Handicap (1400m) at Kensington on Wednesday. It will be his first race ride since May 8.

“There’s no pain, I can straighten my arms really well and I feel good riding,’’ he said.

“But I hadn’t gone that long without riding a horse since I was 10 years old. It’s weird how many little muscles there are you don’t use anywhere else but riding, you just need to get back over time.

“I’ve been riding for a few weeks now and it feels strong enough to go back to the races.”

The 25-year-old was enjoying a handy first season as a senior rider, he claimed Champion Apprentice honours in 2018-19 and 2019-20, before the injury including five stakes race wins.

With the spring carnival on our doorstep, and Wednesday's meeting heralds the first day of spring, Dolan hopes he can not only stay healthy but prove he’s worthy of some big race rides in the coming months.

“I’m the same as everyone, I just want to get good rides and get a few winners,’’ he said.

“I want to show people what I can do and that I’m back.”

Dolan has ridden Profondo in each of the colt’s four barrier trials – he’s won three of them – and is grateful to be able to continue his association on race day given it will be his first ride after such a long break.

The trial performances have been there for all to see and he is sure the colt has his share of ability.

“The owners didn’t have to put me on but I’ve been riding him a bit of work and in trials so I appreciate that they did,’’ he said.

“There’s no prizemoney in trials but he’s an impressive horse so far, if he can knock off a maiden in the same way he’s been doing it in his trials he could be anything.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Kensington meeting