'I'll be back,' says defiant Munro after latest blow

Alan Munro, who suffered a convulsion when flying from Cambridge to Deauville on August 20 and was forced to stop riding, is to have a year out of the saddle.

However, the 39-year-old rider vowed to return, saying: "I don't see this as the end of my career.

"I would like to enjoy another five years in the saddle. So I will be keen to get back."

The jockey was travelling to France to partner top two-year-old Dutch Art in the Group One Prix Morny and missed out on that horse's victory there as well as his subsequent success in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Munro was also unable to take up his regular mount on 2005 Horse of the Year Sergeant Cecil, who went on to land the Lonsdale and Doncaster Cups and the Prix du Cadran under Frankie Dettori. The leading stayer now lines up in the French St Leger at Longchamp this weekend.

Munro, who will sit out a 12-month observation period until the anniversary of his blackout in August 2007, was seen by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority's chief medical officer Dr Michael Turner yesterday.

He received reports from Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge which confirmed that Munro's problems are unrelated to epilepsy.

Munro, who enjoyed his biggest success when winning the Derby on Generous in 1991, hopes to continue his career at the end of his enforced absence.

He has staged a successful return to riding in Britain before. After leaving these shores for Hong Kong in 1991, he rode there for nine years and then took four years out of the saddle before returning here to resume his career in March 2005.