Dobbin rides Man

Gordon Richards has scotched speculation that Richard Dunwoody will replace his stable jockey, Tony Dobbin, aboard One Man in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Dobbin returned to action at Catterick on Friday after 24 days off with a dislocated shoulder, torn ligaments and a broken bone in his left thumb. He was on the sidelines when Mark Dwyer partnered One Man to victory at Haydock earlier in the month, but yesterday Richards gave Dobbin his full backing.

"Tony is fine and is riding at Edinburgh today, and as long as he is 100 per cent fit he will ride One Man," he said. "I have always admired Richard and I have always used him. He has ridden for me for years and can ride for me any time, but I have always admired Ron Barry and Jonjo O'Neill too, and they won't be getting the ride either."