Champion jockey on the mend

Champion jockey Kevin Darley, who escaped serious injury in a fall at the weekend,is hoping to ride star sprinter Pipalong in Dubai on Saturday (24 March), after all.

Darley took an horrific spill when his mount tripped over its loose bandages while working on Blewbury trainer Gerard Butler’s gallops on Saturday morning.

At first it was feared Darley had sustained a badly broken right wrist and would be out of action for the first two weeks of the new turf season which opens at Doncaster on Thursday.

But after visiting his specialist in York, new X-rays revealed just a small crack in a bone.

“I have had the original pot taken off and am now wearing a plastic support on my wrist,” said Darley. “I am flying out to Dubai on Tuesday morning and will ride work there on Wednesday. And then hopefully I will be passed fit by the doctor so I can ride Pipalong in the big sprint on Saturday.”

He added: “My wrist is feeling better by the day and is much more comfortable than it was. I am sure a bit of Dubai sunshine will help it.”