Conditional Aidan MacDonald takes first steps after being rushed to hospital

Conditional jockey Aidan MacDonald, who was rushed to hospital with internal bleeding last week, is continuing to make progress and has taken his first steps.

The rider, 21, collapsed in Middleham last Thursday and was taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he was reported to be "in a critical condition".

His boss Micky Hammond said on Tuesday: "Aidan is making progress. They got him out of bed this morning and he stood up and took a few steps.

"That is very encouraging. Time is the thing for him now."

MacDonald had initially been taken to hospital on March 18 after taking a heavy fall at the third-last flight in the conditional jockeys' mares' hurdle when riding 22-1 shot Russian Royale for Hammond.

He was subsequently released but after his collapse last week was readmitted for treatment of a suspected dissection of the carotid artery, which takes blood from the heart to the front of the brain.

The 7lb claimer joined Middleham-based Hammond on a permanent basis in 2016, having previously ridden out at the yard, and has ridden three winners.

He is originally from Hawick in the Scottish borders and started out in pony races.

Flat jockey Barry McHugh is set for a spell on the sidelines after a fall on Bear Me In Mind in the mile handicap at Redcar on Monday.

His agent Laura Way said: "He has a broken collarbone and a punctured lung."