Patrick Carbery says it was bittersweet watching Jokers Grin win without him last start, but he’s thrilled to reunite with the sprinter in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

Carbery missed the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) after suffering a concussion in a Bunbury fall on November 13.

He has ridden Jokers Grin in all but one of his 11 starts, including this year’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m), and will chase his sixth Group 1 win from barrier six.

“I was out for the 12 days, and I’ve had to complete my Cogstate test, which I passed last Thursday,” Carbery said.

“It’s probably no different from any of the other major sports nowadays; it’s just the way things are.”

Carbery praised stand-in rider Sean O’Donnell but admitted the experience was emotional.

“It was a mix of emotions that I wasn’t on him, but it was great to see the horse run well and he’d done what we expected him to do.”

Trainer Bernie Miller is chasing his first Group 1 win, and Carbery shrugged off the middle draw.

“I was expecting 11,” he quipped.

“He’s drawn middle of the way, so we’ll just work it out and show everyone what he can do.”

Jokers Grin is narrowly favoured at $2.60 over dual winner Overpass at $2.90, with Rey Magnerio and Luana Miss also in single figures.