Jockey Page Fuller on comeback trail after suffering mid-race stroke

Page Fuller, the rider who feared her time in the saddle may be over after suffering a stroke during a race in September, has taken the first steps to resuming her career by riding out, but she is taking nothing for granted with regard to her wellbeing.

Fuller was aboard Touchthesoul in a handicap chase at Fontwell when she lost vision in her right eye and suffered pain in her right arm, which resulted from a tear to an artery in her neck that had been caused by a Plumpton fall a few weeks earlier.

She began riding out for Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden last week and hopes a return to competitive action is not far off, but her comeback will be handled patiently.

"Things are good," said Fuller. "I got the all-clear from my MRI scan over the new year and I've been back riding out for a week. It's good news, so hopefully things are straightforward from now.

"I've let myself find my feet and check everything feels okay. The BHA's medical adviser Jerry Hill and the specialists have said it's led by how I'm feeling, so I'm taking it week by week.

"I had pushed it and was taking two steps forward, but three back. I rushed it and shot myself in the foot, but loosely hope I could look at returning at the end of this month or the start of February."

Page Fuller in winning action on Midnight Centurion (left) at Ludlow last springCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Fuller, whose biggest win came in the on the Snowden-trained Anythingforlove at Sandown in 2021, has maintained her fitness at Oaksey House in Lambourn.

"A stroke sounds severe, but it wasn't that severe and the episode only lasted for a matter of seconds," she added. "The main things they were worried about was the artery not healing and the extent of any brain damage that might have occurred, but the artery has healed – you can see that in black and white – and the MRIs aren't showing any brain damage. Neurologically, I seem fine.

"The more you test your body, the more you'll find out, but it was like getting over really bad concussion for me and my head has probably only come right in the last few weeks."

The 27-year-old, who was able to drive a month after the incident, has welcomed the distraction of undertaking some hospitality work at racecourses for former jockey Dave Crosse, as well as watching Snowden's string on the gallops.

"I've been going to Oaksey House plenty and don't think my fitness has dropped loads and riding out felt normal, which was a relief," Fuller said.

"More than that, it felt good and I will be back, but I'm not going to rush things, so my body has every chance to say if things aren't right. Initially, I was probably a bit scared by the word 'stroke', but it didn't affect me in the way people might think; it's more like I've banged my head in a bad way, that's how it manifested itself.

"It's been about finding a balance and at least I wasn't stuck on crutches or not able to make myself a cup of tea. I could go and do fairly normal things while minding myself and now I'm really looking forward to kicking on again."

Aidan Macdonald, a counterpart of Fuller's, completed a remarkable recovery from a stroke when he rode at Sedgefield in September, 17 months after being rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

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