Wantage-based jockey Cathy Gannon is on the comeback trail after being given the go-ahead to ride again by her specialist.

The 33-year-old rider has been sidelined since November 2013 after a problem with her right shoulder turned out to be worse than was initially thought.

Gannon, Ireland's first female apprentice champion jockey who has clocked up 394 career winners, rode two years ago with injections to freeze the shoulder after cracking her collar-bone in a fall at Salisbury in October 2012.

And she discovered early last year that the cartilage in the joint had worn away.

But after more than a year out and extensive physiotherapy she is now ready to relaunch her career.

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Gannon said: “I am starting to ride out and I’m hoping to get back by the end of March-April time.

“My specialist is happy enough with my shoulder and it feels a lot better and stronger now.

“I have just got to see how I progress from riding out, which I have been doing for Mick Channon (at West Ilsley).”

She is now waiting on the British Horseracing Authority to approve her licence application.

“I have got to send my licence through and pass the doctor on the racecourse, which hopefully will be OK, so I am 90 per cent sure I will be back in April,” she added.

“I have missed it loads, but I was told to take a year out.”

During her time out of the saddle, Gannon has kept busy, taking courses in jockeys’ training, horse welfare and dog grooming as well as giving birth to a baby boy, Aaron, ten weeks ago.