Conditional rider Aidan MacDonald making 'positive' progress after Hexham fall

Conditional rider Aidan MacDonald has made positive progress overnight after being rushed to hospital with internal bleeding, according to his boss Micky Hammond.

MacDonald, 21, had initially been hospitalised after a fall at Hexham last month before being released, but after collapsing in Middleham on Thursday he was taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

In a statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund on Thursday, MacDonald was described as being in a "critical condition" and receiving treatment for a suspected dissection of the carotid artery, which takes blood from the heart to the front of the brain.

Hammond, writing on Twitter on Friday, said: "Update on Aidan Macdonald – the bleed has now been cleared. He is speaking in sentences and can feel and move his fingers.

"A long road ahead but what a warrior, we still ask for privacy for his family at this difficult time. But what positive news."

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.

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.