Racing: James McDonald has six chances to restart career on a high

James McDonald is back riding again today after completing his 18-month suspension. Photo / Photosport

Champion Kiwi jockey James McDonald makes his much-anticipated comeback to racing today and punters are backing him to make a winning return early in the day.

The Australian TAB has a special 'Mac's back' market and the star jockey is rated a $2.50 chance to ride two or more winners at Warwick Farm in Sydney.

"That's not bad considering he's got rides in six races," Glenn Munsie from the Australian TAB told the Daily Telegraph.

McDonald's a $10 chance to ride three or more winners and if he's to make it a very good return and ride four or more winners, that will pay $51.

McDonald, who served an 18-month suspension for illegally placing $1000 on a horse he was riding in a race, is primed to start off on a winning note in the first event, with the Chris Waller-trained Cormac a $1.75 fixed odds chance with the TAB.

All five of his other rides are set to start in single figure odds, with Press Box in the second race being his next best chance at $2.60 fixed.

Tinkermosa is at $6, last start winner Stryke Rock is at $10, Monasterio is a $9.50 hope and Kitteau is battling it out for favouritism in the last as a $6.50 chance.

"Don't be surprised if his runners start even shorter," Munsie said.

"It's important for him to start off well. He wants to get his name back out there as quickly as he can.

"The rank and file punters will want to be on him. They know he'll be desperate to ride winners. It's no good coming back and punching out 50/1 horses. He needs to ride winners straight away.

"It's a tip in itself, some of the horses he's riding. He's not coming back to ride average horses. He's had a number of weeks to make sure he kicks off with a bang."

The 26-year-old, who has already won the Sydney jockeys' premiership twice in 2013-14 and 2015-16, has teamed up with Sydney's most powerful trainer Waller to ride four of his horses.

He also rides John Sargent's Tinkermosa, who is having her lead-up run to the Queensland Oaks, and Sargent is keen for McDonald to get a win on her so he follows her up north.

"With Hughie not here and racing in Japan, Chris Waller has used him as his go-to man straight off, so the Kiwis are sticking together," Munsie said.

"He's got rides on horses that are going to be very hard to beat.

"Most trainers would have the attitude that he's young and deserves a second chance."

McDonald's comeback will be welcomed on both sides of the Tasman, not only by punters but also within the industry, as the young jockey was immensely popular before his shock suspension.

While he took unsuccessful legal action to appeal the suspension, he has never publicly complained about the sentence and has stated he would rather look forward now he is back in the the saddle than concentrate on the past.

"While it was unfortunate circumstances, I have learned my lesson and the time away has been good for me mentally and physically, with my weight having really stabilised," says McDonald.

"So I am looking forward, rather than worrying about the past."