Blake Shinn and Hugh Bowman have given up rides at the feature Ramornie Handicap meeting to resume the quest for the Sydney premiership at Canterbury.

Both will head to Grafton for the second day of the carnival but Wednesday's Canterbury meeting could be pivotal.

Shinn, who is on 85-1/2 wins for the season has a full book at Canterbury while Bowman, 84, has six scheduled mounts.

A few weeks ago when reigning champion James McDonald headed to England, it looked as if the pair would fight it out for the title.

But McDonald remains in the lead on 88-1/2 and any thoughts he had of a holiday after his northern hemisphere stint have been quashed by John O'Shea, head trainer for Godolphin in Australia.

O'Shea says he expects retained rider McDonald back for at least the final four of the seven meetings remaining.

"He will be straight off the plane and straight back to work," O'Shea said.

"We've got Macca riding and trying to win a premiership and we'll see if we can give him a hand."

Shinn and Bowman are supported by various trainers at Canterbury but not surprisingly by O'Shea who has engaged Tim Clark, Rory Hutchings and Brenton Avdulla on the three Godolphin horses at the meeting.

Shinn rode a treble at Warwick Farm last Wednesday and added another win at Rosehill on Saturday while Bowman was winless at the meeting.

"It's good for the sport and good for racing," Shinn said of the premiership stoush.

After the weekend, corporate bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has McDonald the $2.40 favourite to retain the title with Shinn at $2.70 and Bowman at $3.20.

On Thursday, Shinn will ride the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bonfire in the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) while Bowman is aboard Danchai for the Chris Waller stable.