Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Nick Hall makes his return to the saddle at Bendigo on Friday after more than five months on the sidelines.

Hall underwent hip surgery after the spring carnival and has not ridden in a race since the Ballarat Cup meeting in late November.

He is booked for five rides at Bendigo and another four mounts at Caulfield on Saturday including the Mick Price-trained Manhattan Avenue in the Listed Sky High Mt Dandenong Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds.

Markets suggest his leading chance on the Caulfield program is the Robert Smerdon-trained Synthetic who is a clear-cut favourite for the L U Simon Builders Handicap (2000m).

A multiple Group One-winning hoop, Hall claimed the biggest victory of his career last spring on Fawkner in the Caulfield Cup.

Other big race successes for Hall include the 2010 Australian Cup on Zipping, the 2010 Blue Diamond Stakes on Star Witness and last year's Stradbroke Handicap aboard Linton.