TONY DOBBIN is targeting the end of next week for his return to race riding after a fortnight out of action with an injured shoulder. He will first have a test by riding out for his boss Gordon Richards on Monday morning.

Dobbin has been on the sidelines since falling from Domino Night at Kelso on March 22nd, but his condition has rapidly improved this week, aided by sessions of physiotherapy.

"I'll ride out for Gordon Richards on Monday, and I hope to come back towards the end of next week," he said yesterday. My shoulder has been so swollen that I couldn't have physiotherapy until this week, but I have been having it all this week and it has improved tremendously.

"Now I'll ride out on Monday see how it goes and then come back. There is not much jump racing next week but hopefully I'll be able to get a ride or two somewhere." Dobbin is currently on the 50 winner mark for the season.

Ladbrokes report support for John Gosden's Pommard for the 2,000 Guineas, he is now 16 to 1 from 20 to 1. "Pommard has emerged over the last week as the best backed dark horse in this season's Classics, and may develop into one of Alhaarth's most potent dangers," said spokesman Ian Wassell.

Prior to this the best supported horses for the Guineas, apart from the strongly backed favourites, had been the Godolphin horses Mark Of Esteem and Bint Shadayid."

. Fine weather and a full dab of entertainment greeted the crowds as the training centres of Lambourn and Middleham threw open their doors to the public on their annual open days. Organisers reported a success at both centres with people arriving at Middlchamas early as eight o'clock according to a spokeswoman at Middleham.

"They were beginning to arrive almost before breakfast was finished," the spokeswoman said.