TOM GARNER’s dream of riding the winner of the Velka Pardubicka is over for another year.

He was due to ride Ribelino, last year’s winner and the ante-post favourite for next Sunday's event, which is one of the most infamous races in the world and the Czech Republic’s version of our Grand National.

“I got a phone call on Tuesday to say the horse had injured a suspensory ligament and was out of the race,” said a devastated Garner, who rides principally for Oliver Sherwood in Lambourn.

“I was gutted as this year’s race might only have about 10 runners and my fella clearly had an outstanding chance.

“It was also disappointing for my mum and granny who were coming over to watch and have now had to cancel their hotel and flights.”

During the summer, when the local jump racing scene goes rather quiet, Garner has been forging lucrative links across Europe.

He has ridden in the Czech Republic, Bratislava, Italy and Germany, including a race in Hamburg where the field races through a 50-yard stretch of lake.

At Merano in Italy, he was able to ride in the first Grade One (championship) race of his career.

“John Brennan, a friend of mine from his days working with trainer Alan King in Wiltshire, has set up as a trainer in Italy,” said Garner, the former Farmor's School, Fairford pupil.

“John recently broke his shoulder so hasn’t been able to ride the horses himself and he asked me over to take three rides, one of which (Morning Star) was a winner.

“I went back the following weekend and rode another of his which picked up 24,000 euros for finishing second in a Grade One.”

With the core domestic jumping season just around the corner, Garner can’t wait for the racecourse return of his favourite horse Rayvin Black, on whom he won the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton as well as finishing second to The New One in the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial last season.

“He makes his seasonal reappearance on October 16 at Kempton,” said Garner.

“The girl who looks after him tells me he is better than ever and he was certainly fresh when I schooled him on Thursday because he ran away with me.”