'It's been stressful' - Bannister buzzing to return after worst injury of career

Harry Bannister, on the sidelines since October after dislocating his hip, has spoken of his relief after getting the all-clear to ride cross-country regular Diesel D'Allier at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Bannister, eager for the meeting to pass a 7.30am inspection, was hurt in a handicap chase at Stratford, but began riding out three weeks ago and the paperwork to make his return was completed on Thursday – just in time for him to partner the Richard Bandey-trained ten-year-old, whose record over Cheltenham's unique cross-country circuit reads 14314.

"I got the okay on Thursday," the jump jockey said. "I thought we might get it sooner, but it just hasn't happened. Luckily, it came in time for Saturday.

"It was the worst injury of my career by far – I wouldn't ever want to do it again. It was a bit complicated and I spent a bit of time in hospital.

"It was slow going to start with. It's been about dotting the Is and crossing the Ts and making sure everyone's happy. I had to have a CT scan on Wednesday to make sure. 

"It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks, I won't lie. I started riding out and everything felt fine. I was schooling horses and things looked like they were holding up well. I felt I could ride and was itching to because I felt grand."

Fresh from his finest season last term, Bannister heaped praise on the BHA's medical adviser Jerry Hill, professor Damien Griffin and Oaksey House staff Anna Fisher, Rob Treviss, Katie Dorsett, Heidi Preece and Scott Reed.

"It's been a proper team effort," he added. "Professor Griffin and Jerry Hill have done some top work in the last week and, along with the guys at Oaksey, have been great. They're psychologists as well as helping with the injury because there are times you feel low.

Diesel D'Allier: "He's as good a ride as you'll get in it"Credit: Grossick Racing

"You'll sit at home and see a horse you would have ridden win and then be a bit down. They're used to dealing with people pushing to come back quickly and it's not an easy job as us jockeys can be quite impatient.  

"It takes you to get hurt to realise how good they are, but they've always been good."

Of Diesel D'Allier's chances, he said: "He's as good a ride as you'll get in it; he's done it so many times. He's won on very testing ground in France and on better ground over here, so I don't think conditions will be a problem.

"Delta Work beat us a mile at the festival, but my fella is really consistent and excels round here. I hope it will be on and you've got a National winner [Minella Times] and a National-placed horse [Delta Work] in it, so it's as good a cross-country race as I've known for a while.

"He could run well and finish fifth, but I think he's got a solid each-way chance and he'll run his race and look after himself – and hopefully look after me!"

Read more:

 'He truly is a dedicated jockey' - Bannister brings up career best with treble 

 Trials day at Cheltenham survives inspection but second check planned on raceday

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