Ascot fall leaves jockey Eddy Greatrex battling back problem

Eddy Greatrex, who has played an important part in helping put Archie Watson's prolific Lambourn yard on the map, is set for a spell on the sidelines as he attempts to cure a back problem that reoccurred at Royal Ascot on Saturday.

Greatrex, the son of Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Warren, who is also based in the village, parted company with Dramatic Sands in Ascot's parade ring before the Chesham when the juvenile reared.

That led to a return of a back issue, which will mean the talented rider misses a crucial part of the Flat season.

He said: "I was off for a month earlier in the year as I get cysts wrapped around the bottom of my spine and got rid of the first lot, but had that fall at Ascot on Saturday, which made them come back through the scarring.

"It's my lower back and it's a pain to do anything. It's not great. I had an operation on Tuesday and it went smoothly, but I think I'll have to have another one in six or seven weeks."

Musaddas and Eddy Greatrex land the Balmoral Handicap in 2015Credit: Edward Whitaker

Greatrex, whose twin brother Tom rode a winner for Godolphin on Gifts Of Gold at Salisbury on Wednesday, added: "The cysts naturally occur and some people get them and some don't. It's the anatomy of people's bodies and they've just come on in the last year, unfortunately.

"Operating is the best way to cure it and I've had two temporary ones, but I think I'm going to get one big one to get rid of them once and for all.

"There's nothing pencilled in yet, but it'll will probably be in two months or so. I was talking to the doctors and surgeons and they think they can come up with a plan to get rid of them for good."

Jockeys with the most British winners for Archie Watson

Eddy Greatrex 63

Oisin Murphy 39

Hollie Doyle 38

Luke Morris 22

Danny Tudhope 17

Greatrex, whose biggest win came on Musaddas in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Champions Day in 2015, is a product of Andrew Balding's famed Kingsclere apprentice academy, but his career has scaled new heights since he two years ago linked up with Watson, who has achieved a lot in a short space of time.

The 21-year-old, who has ridden more winners for the going-places trainer than anyone, continued: "I know Archie's flying, but it's one of those things and it's out of everyone's hands. There's nothing I can do apart from sit and suffer and let myself get better. Racing takes up the majority of my time, I love it and it's my life, but at times like this you've got to do the right thing.

"It can be slightly annoying seeing other people riding your horses, but I'm pretty good and what am I going to do? If it's my brother, or Oisin Murphy or Hollie Doyle riding Archie's I'm not too fussed, as long as Archie and the team are doing well - that's the main thing.

"Archie has been fantastic to me, as has the yard in general and the staff. We're getting better horses every season and he's already established himself as a very good trainer, so it's exciting to be a part of a young team that is going to have big winners on big days.

"This has unfortunately happened at the wrong time as I'd just got going from my last operation, but that's life and I'm still breathing, which is the main thing."

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