Jamie nears return from injury
JAMIE CODD is nearing a return after his injury in a fall at Limerick on December 29. He rode out for the first time on Friday and hopes to be back in action for the Dublin Festival meeting the weekend after next.
The heavy fall resulted in a partially collapsed lung but he is happy with his recovery, Jamie told Ger Gilroy and Johnny Ward on the Newstalk ‘Off The Ball’ radio show on Friday night.
Jamie spoke about his love for horses and the great kick he still gets from riding winners. He named Cause of Causes as his favourite horse ever, getting three Cheltenham wins on him and a close second in the Aintree Grand National. Small in stature, the horse has a mighty heart and is now enjoying his retirement.
He revealed he does not intend to get into training when his riding career ends, though he will be involved with horses.
He is employed by Tattersalls as an agent in Ireland and helps attract many of the top point-to-point graduates to their sales rings in Ireland and England.
There was just one meeting on Sunday, at Boulta in Cork. The Wexford impact overall was small, but it was a big day for the Corrigan brothers from Ballinaclash, Blackwater.
Gold Storm, a daughter of Gold Well, gave owner Martin a first success as a trainer, in the hands of his 19-years-old brother, Kevin. They won by a length in the older mares’ maiden for novice riders.
Luke Murphy had a couple of rides for Colin Motherway and was second in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden on Do Wanna Know, with Barry O’Neill third on Colin Bowe’s Rainbow Chaser.
Rob James was second in the Open on BL Swagger behind Arctic Skipper, and O’Neill was second on Bowe’s Fort Worth Texas in the Mares’ Winner of Two before heading for Thurles for the Arctic Tack Hunters’ Chase, along with Derek O’Connor.
It was worth the trip as he was a convincing winner on Ucello Conti (4/6f) for Gordon Elliott, from Samanntom (20/1). This one will next be aimed at the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham.
This weekend they race at Tyrella, Downpatrick, on Saturday and at Dungarvan and Kilfeacle (Co. Tipperary) on Sunday. The Wexford Hunt races at Moorfields, Ballinaboola, on Sunday, February 3.