M.J. Byleveld returns to the fray at Kenilworth tomorrow after four medically-ordered months on the sidelines, the consequence of old injuries that caused a disc to push into his spinal cord and threaten to leave him paralysed.

Fortunately the enforced rest has worked the oracle and he said yesterday: “A month ago I got the go-ahead from my doctor to start riding work and when I went to him on Monday he gave me a letter to say that everything is clear.”

Byleveld, 37, has six booked rides but will only partner five of them – “I’m still a bit fat so I am not going to make the weight (54.5kg) on Sean Tarry’s Jetorio in race six.”

Asked if there is anything he particularly likes, he singled out Ground Control in the first – “He is a very nice horse who has done some good work and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t run well.”

Vaughan Marshall would like nothing more than to give his stable jockey a winner on his first ride back and the colt has already been backed from 5-2 to 16-10 joint favourite. Byleveld said he had heard the reports about Ibra (also 16-10) being a sharp sort. By Var (like Ground Control and Mister Vargus), the Joey Ramsden runner is the only filly in the race and she cost Brian Finch and his partners R350 000 at the National Yearling Sale. The booking of Anton Marcus looks significant and she gets the vote.

Santa Clara, five lengths-fifth when hampered in the Cape Fillies Guineas, is hard to oppose in the Tab Telebet Handicap, even at a fraction of odds-on. There is little to choose between Brave Tiger and Captain Carlos 35 minutes later and the pair are joint favourites at 33-10.

Captain Carlos is marginally preferred even though the fact that he made a noise in a work riders race last time is a slight concern. Hopefully it was a one-off and not a warning signal.

Hurricane Silva made a strong final furlong challenge when just failing last time and looks another winner for Marcus in race three. Louisa May could be the danger.

The former champion also has good prospects on Northern Spy in the Book Your Seat SunMet Maiden but stable companion Var Express is marginally preferred.

Marcus’s most interesting ride is Mushi Sterek in the Interbet.co.za Handicap. This Australian-bred created a big impression when winning by five lengths on debut and, although the handicappers have put her in high on 84, she may be good enough to defy the ‘first time out of the maidens’ red warning light.

By Michael Clower