Hell of a fall for Newman on Australian comeback trail

Former British champion apprentice Lee Newman is recovering in hospital in Perth, Australia, after a fall that has brought a temporary halt to his successful comeback.

Riding in the last race on the card at Ascot in Western Australia on Saturday, he was fired into the ground when Hell Of A Story clipped heels and came down 500 metres from home.

Two other jockeys were unseated when their mounts collided with the fallen horse.

"I'm going to be okay," Newman said on Sunday. "The doctors have told me I damaged my spleen in the fall and they operated successfully to repair the damage. I'm feeling tired but I'm not in any pain and should be fine in a few weeks.

"I have to say thank you for all the messages both here and from home. I cannot believe the level of support, it truly means a lot."

Apprentice Mollie Clark was also injured in the incident and Newman said: "I've just seen Mollie and she seems okay apart from a broken elbow. I'd say we were both very lucky. Things could have been a lot worse but this is our sport and we know the risks."

Newman won the apprentices’ title when with Richard Hannon snr in 2000 and, after giving up due to weight problems two years later, he returned for another successful stint in the saddle in 2010, only to give up his battle with the scales the next year.

He has ridden eight winners since he returned to race-riding in Australia in February.