FIVE years on from suffering a life-threatening head injury, Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman is returning to the saddle.

After seeking special authority from British Horse Racing doctors to ride competitively for the first time since 2009, Guy (50) is fighting fit and as lean as he has been for years as he participates in Sunday’s Border fixture at Hexham Racecourse, as the penultimate round of the Northern Area point-to-point season.

His appearance on board Silent Snow, owned and trained by Tim Reed, of Moss Kennels, on Hadrian’s Wall, is a huge moment for the former top-ranking amateur jockey who stared death in the face after collapsing in the House of Commons with a brain tumour in 2011.

As a result of his injuries, he required craniotomy surgery but has been declared fully fit to ride in Sunday’s meeting, as well as the Haydon fixture, also at Hexham, the following week.

Guy was known as a successful amateur jockey prior to curtailing his riding career in 2009, his last win coming in Tynedale when he rode Low Lander to glory at Downhills, near Corbridge.

After a tough, six-month training programme, he is raring to return to competitive racing after being given the all-clear just this week.

He said: “It is very exciting to be able to take part, although I fully accept I am unlikely to win!

“My advice to punters is to fold your money and put it back in your pocket rather than put it on me!

“Silent Snow is a nice horse and I am very lucky to get the ride. Clearly Tim Reed felt the perfect jockey for him was an ageing politician and former serious amateur jockey, and I am very grateful to him for giving me the chance.

“I have been in training for many months and have lost over two stone in weight for Sunday’s race, but anything can happen in racing, albeit I just want to clear a spin round.

“I have had special authorisation from the BHR doctors to ride because of the operation, and I hope that my example gives support to those that have suffered significant injuries.

“My surgeon said he is perfectly happy for me to race again as my craniotomy has fully healed, although he thinks I’m mad for doing it!”

All eyes will be on how Guy fares on his return to racing after seven years, quitting in 2009 to concentrate on politics and because his level of fitness was not at the required level.

He said: “I have made a massive effort to get back into shape and lose the weight as best I can given my age, and job.

“I am really lucky to have this opportunity and I have worked hard for it, but I know I will be 25 years older than a lot of the other jockeys.

“There’s nothing more exciting than riding a big horse over big fences at speed, and the partnership between horse and jockey, providing it doesn’t come unstuck, is amazing.

“Someone once asked me would I rather win the Grand National of become Prime Minister, and I made it clear I would much rather win the National any day of the week.”

Guy will join the 117 entries at Hexham on Sunday, the highest total for any Northern Area meeting for more than two years, for the seven race card, which starts at 2pm.

There are 19 entries for the NPPA Club Members Race, with the four highest rated contenders being Barachois Silver, Farm Pixie, Milano Magic and Pyjama Game, who all feature elsewhere on the card.

Harmoincal struck late on to win at Heslaker last time out and is expected to strike again in the Restricted Race, while Anddante is one of the 10 other entries likely to pose a threat.

The 21 horses listed for the Ladies Open Race include eight Yorkshire raiders, but the pick of the Northern Area entries are the ultra consistent Sharivarry, soft ground specialist Sea Scout, Oscar Stanley, Whisperdale and Clonea Power.

Newcastle University student William Easterby has ridden 22 winners already this season and holds a strong hand in the Men’s Open Race, of 26 entries, with a choice of rides on Camden, My Old Piano or Things Change.

The 20 entries for the Open Maiden Race are headed by Dibble Bridge, while the two-and-a-half mile Open Maiden Race for four, five and six-year-olds has 11 entries and could go to either one of the Yorkshire raiders, Grove Mountain or Mafate Fortin.

Barachois Silver and Catchamat are the highest rated of the local entries in the concluding TBA Club Members Mares Race, which has nine entries in total.