Burke to miss key Welsh National ride but hoping for New Year's Day return

Johnny Burke is one of many people counting the days until the end of 2020 and the jockey is hoping that the turn of the year will see him back in the saddle as he races to return from injury.

Burke has enjoyed a fine year in the service of Tom George, as well as Oliver Sherwood and Tom Lacey, but has been sidelined with a fractured collarbone picked up in a schooling accident at the beginning of December.

While he won't be back quite in time to ride him, Burke is extremely hopeful that Springfield Fox can land the spoils in the Coral Welsh National next Sunday.

The George-trained seven-year-old is currently a general 12-1 joint second favourite for the Chepstow marathon ahead of what will be only his fourth start over fences.

Springfield Fox won twice as a novice at the beginning of 2020 and was prominently placed when unseating the trainer's son Noel in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Johnny Burke is nearing a return to race riding after suffering a fractured collarboneCredit: Grossick Racing

He went back to Chepstow for a seasonal pipe-opener over hurdles at the start of the month and now Burke says it is all systems go for Springfield Fox, who will only have to carry 10st if topweight Native River stands his ground.

"Ever since he first jumped fences in public when he won at Chepstow last season, this race has been mentioned as his aim. He had a nice run in a novice hurdle two weeks ago and he's been trained for the day. I won't be back in time but he should have a good chance."

Of his return to action Burke said: "It's going well and I'm probably looking at New Year's Day at the earliest. The Christmas holidays are just going to slow me down a bit because Oaksey House will be closed for a couple of days.

"I've Monday and Tuesday in there before they're closed for Christmas and it just won't be quite enough rehab to pass me. I'll be in there between Christmas and New Year and hopefully I'll get passed for New Year's Day."

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