Adrian Maguire was yesterday confident he will be back raceriding in time for the Cheltenham Festival despite his latest injury setback. The Meathman, who has missed jump racing's biggest meeting for the last three seasons, aggravated an old injury in a fall at Kempton on Saturday.

He faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, having only recently returned form a fortnight's break due to a broken arm.

But his wife Sabrina said yesterday morning: "Adrian is quite relieved that it won't rule him out of Cheltenham. The bone he cracked three weeks ago has opened into a break. He will be in plaster for six weeks."

Tony Dobbin was yesterday "raring to go" as he prepares to return to race-riding after a five-and-half-week lay-off.

He rides Hurst Flyer and Ballyline at Musselburgh, his first mounts since he dislocated his shoulder in a fall at Sedgefield on November 20th.

"I also damaged some nerves down the side of my arm and that's why I've been off for five weeks," Dobbin said. "But I have been riding out for a week and schooling and it has been very comfortable. I can't wait to get back and I am raring to go."

Bryan Harding gets a big-race chance at Cheltenham on Thursday, just a fortnight after his return from a year out of action. The Cork-born jockey will be reunited with McGregor The Third in the £12,500-added Sporting Index Select Chase.

He scored over the cross-country course at Cheltenham's November meeting in 1995 and 1996 on the gelding, who was forced to miss his hat-trick bid last month.

Harding was ruled out for a year after he was adjudged to have suffered a fit following a fall but made a successful comeback to the saddle just before Christmas.

Possible opponents on Thursday include Fiftysevenchannels, winner of the November race, and Fiddlers Pike who will celebrate his 17th birthday on the day of the race.