Walker returns with eight rides

Champion jockey Omar Walker returns from a two-day suspension tomorrow, but even with eight rides on the Supreme Ventures-sponsored programme at Caymanas Park, he will have arch-rivals Dick Cardenas and Shane Ellis to contend with if he hopes to win his fifth consecutive championship.

According to Walker's agent Gary Reid, this latest suspension for careless riding has extended the number of racedays the jockey has been out of the saddle to 12 this year. That's a big chunk of the racing calendar - six weeks.

Walker starts the day on 70 wins, while Cardenas and Ellis are 79 and 75, respectively.

Ellis rode three winners last Saturday and Cardenas two, to further put Walker under pressure on his return to the saddle.

However, Reid is optimistic that Waker can close the gap with two and a half months of the season remaining, but concedes that his client can ill afford another suspension at this stage. Walker, who started riding in 2006, notched his 500th career win earlier this season.

Meanwhile, top-line jockey Paul 'Country' Francis, who returned from a two-day suspension last Saturday, was banned for an additional four racedays by the stewards for careless riding aboard OASIS in the eighth race on Wednesday, August 31. His suspension commences tomorrow.