Karl Neisius, who has not ridden since last Saturday week, will be out of action for another month and possibly longer.

He said: “There is inflammation in my lower back and also a bit of osteoporosis. I’ve had it for about a year to a year and a half. It comes and goes but normally it settles down again if I have a break.

“I have seen one or two specialists and they have said that it is basically wear and tear and that I must give it a rest. They will look at it again in about a month from now.”

Neisius, who will be 59 in January, jokes that it is old age creeping up on him but there is no shortage of jockeys who have ridden for longer and his renowned sense of timing is as good as it has ever been.

Devin Ashby, who had an operation on his ankle after a nasty fall at Milnerton last Thursday, will be out for two months.

He said: “I was riding Mayoral Decree, on whom I won at Kenilworth in May, when he came over with me and fell on top of me. The doctors inserted two pins into my ankle but it could have been worse.”

Gerrit Schlechter, though, is optimistic that he will be back shortly. He was off for three months with a prolapsed disc and the problem flared up on his first day back early this month.

He said: “My doctor is waiting for the results of scans and he should have these by Thursday. However the back is getting better and I will probably be able to resume either at the end of the month or early next month.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Karl Neisius (Liesl King)