NARROMINE hoop Ricky Blewitt is looking forward to getting back in the Moree winners’ circle today after a busted ankle late last year sidelined him for more than three months.

Blewitt, one of the most experienced riders on the Golden Triangle circuit, has been back riding work for six weeks. He returns to Moree picnics today with a full book of rides.

Blewitt rode at Bong Bong picnics late last year and broke his ankle in a trackwork mishap shortly afterwards.

“I went to get on one and it moved away. The horse half-spooked, which was probably a good thing because he cow-kicked me out of the iron,” Blewitt said.

The jockey underwent surgery the same day and spent the next six weeks with his foot and ankle in plaster.

“I was in a ‘boot’ after that for a few weeks as well and have been back riding work for about five weeks,” he said.

Blewitt rides Wayne Oakenfull’s Shut Eye in today’s 1400m B&W Rural Boolooroo Cup as well as Gavin Groth’s new recruit Annual in the 950m RDO Equipment Moree Bracelet.

Shut Eye has 72.5kg to shoulder and a wide barrier, but Blewitt is confident the four-year-old will run well despite the big weight on a soft track.

“He’s won on the soft but Wayne did say the horse is much better on top of the ground,” Blewitt said.

“The wide barrier is a bit of a pain as well, but being out there might play into our hands.

“I think he can cross them and be up there handy,” Blewitt said.

Speedy mare Annual has its first start for Gunnedah trainer Gavin Groth and brings impressive Canberra form to Moree.

The seven-year-old mare, a winner of six races, is a jump-and-run horse well-suited today despite a big weight (73.5kg).

“If she can get back to her form from down south, she’ll take some stitching,” Blewitt said.

Blewitt also rides Groth’s Showtime Sassy in the 1200m Graincorp Class 3 Handicap.

“She’s never far away from them, and is always around the money,” he said.

Blewitt opens today’s six-race card on Wayne Oakenfull’s Bold Pulse in the 950m Nutrien Ag Solutions Maiden Plate.

Oakenfull also saddles first-starter Ellati in the same race with Ashley Boyd on board.

Blewitt says Bold Pulse, a trial winner back in January, is a good ride.

“He’s only had three starts and hasn’t been that far away from them,” Blewitt said.

“I watched his trial win, which was pretty good, and he hasn’t been beaten far at TAB meetings – it’s a good ride.”

The jockey also rides Spotted for Keiren Hazelton in the 950m North West Events Class B Handicap.

Spotted, formerly trained by James Cummings, easily won first-up at Nyngan before a good midfield effort at Wellington in strong TAB company.

“Keiren’s only had Spotted for two starts and the horse will be hard to beat on that form,” Blewitt said.

Blewitt said maiden galloper Broadway Spirit, his ride in the 1600m Kenway and Clark Class 2 Handicap, will find it tough against proven horses.

“He’s a maiden looking for a bit of ground in a class 2 race, and there hasn’t been the right races around for him,” Blewitt said.

Race-day selections

After more than 50mm fell on the Moree racecourse 10 days ago and a week of drying weather, course curator John Brown has posted a Soft 6 rating, with the likelihood of an upgrade during the day.

Race 1: Nutrien Ag Solutions 950m Maiden Plate

Inverell trainer Wayne Oakenfull holds the key here, with first-starter Ellati and equal topweight Bold Pulse engaged. He can quite easily quinella the race, with a leaning to Ellati, an impressive trial winner on a slow track on April 30.

Selections: Ellati to win, with a watch on Bold Pulse.

Race 2: North West Events 950m Class B Handicap

This looks a nice race for Brodie Fenton’s Irish Arthur, a winner at the track and distance in December. Will get back, but the big track suits. Kieren Hazelton’s Spotted was a winner two starts back and was far from disgraced last start when unplaced at Wellington in a tough race.

Selections: Irish Arthur to win for leading picnics’ rider Leandro Ribeiro.

Race 3: Graincorp 1200m Class 3 Handicap

Dubbo trainer Connie Greig holds the aces here with Procyon Miss, a last-start winner, with Leandro Ribeiro a key booking. Geoff O’Brien’s Akauwheo should run boldly while Gavin Groth’s Showtime Sassy has been performing well at non-TAB meetings.

Selections: Procyon Miss to win despite the wide gate, with Showtime Sassy and Akauwheo the dangers.

Race 4: Kenway and Clark Case IH 1600m Class 2 Handicap

Janelle Galea’s Fantasy Crowned deserves this after recent strong performances in much-harder TAB races. Will get back in the field, but has been screaming out for 1600m. Dangers are Allande and Joshua, from the all-powerful Connie Greig yard.

Selections: Fantasy Crowned to win with Allande and Joshua to fill the minor placings.

Race 5: RDO Equipment 950m Moree Bracelet

Plenty of speed here, but they have to catch Gavin Groth’s  former Canberra sprinter Annual. Will look the winner halfway down the straight however Jane Clement’s Dozen Kilpatrick is a knock-out chance at odds. Loves the distance and has won on the track.

Selections: Annual to lead all the way, with Dozen Kilpatrick chasing hard.

Race 6: B&W Rural 1400m Boolooroo Cup

Wayne Oakenfull’s Shut Eye can win this – if the track has dried out enough. He’s drawn wide but has superior gate speed that should enable Ricky Blewitt to put him in a handy spot near the lead. His last-start at Glen Innes was enormous when sixth, but he’s weighted up to his best here. Quambone Cup winner Individualist and last-start winner Stillwell, a stablemate to Shut Eye, are the dangers while Jane Clement’s Toulon Factor and Awesome Tycoon must be included. Tough race.

Selections: Shut Eye to win with Stillwell and Individualist fighting out the minors.

Best Bet: Annual (race 5)

Next Best: Shut Eye (race 6)