Spencer makes rapid return to action after ‘gift from God’
Jamie Spencer returns to the saddle for the first time since fracturing his hip 13 weeks ago when he partners Universal Order and Prejudice at York today for David Simcock.
Spencer, 40, believes he has shaved a month off his recuperation time by starting physiotherapy a day after leaving hospital and using the hydrotherapy pool at the Injured Jockeys’ Fund’s recently opened Newmarket rehabilitation centre, Sir Peter O’sullevan House.
The jockey sustained the injury when a horse he was riding back from the gallops in Newmarket lost its footing and he came off, landing on the road. “I knew what I’d done when I hit the ground,” he said. “It was a freakish fall. I’ve had worse falls out hunting a hundred times and falls in races which were much worse but it was one of those things.
“For the last nine weeks I’ve been doing up to two hours in Sir Peter O’sullevan House,” he added. “The hydro-pool [donated by horse breeder Kirsten Rausing] is like a gift from God.”
Jack Mitchell rode a four-timer at Salisbury earlier in the week and can land the John Smith’s Magnet Cup at York today on Fifth Position.
The best racing this weekend is abroad. Though Aidan O’brien runs four of the eight runners in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh tonight, including Epsom runner-up Ennistymon, Jessica Harrington can win the race with Cayenne Pepper.
At Chantilly tomorrow, there is a strong British contingent, headed by Simon Crisford’s Century Dream, in the Prix d’ispahan, while Michael Bell’s Norfolk winner The Lir Jet is one of just four runners in the Prix Robert Papin.