Jump jockeys say positive Josh Moore update was 'the best news of the year'

Members of the weighing room have expressed their relief and delight at the progress being made by jump jockey Josh Moore.

Moore was in critical care in hospital in April after complications resulting from a fall at Haydock. He had a rare reaction while under sedation for an operation, which led to a serious chest infection.

The jockey’s mother Jayne gave an encouraging update on his condition on Tuesday that has been well received, saying Moore has “shown huge improvement” in recent days with the family hoping he can return home in the coming weeks.

Moore, who became a Grade 1 winner in 2015 aboard Ar Mad – trained by his father Gary – in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown and won the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Botox Has this year, had initially been at Aintree University Hospital, but was transferred to a hospital in Haywards Heath closer to the family's Sussex base and is now recovering at the Wellington in north London.

'Josh was never going to give up without a fight'

Grand National-winning jockey Daryl Jacob said: “It was not only the best news of the day, it was the best news of the year. Josh is a remarkable character and very strong. The Moores in general are so mentally tough and you wouldn’t wish it on anyone what they have been through.

“Josh was never going to give up without a fight – he’s done that all his life. To know he’s mentally in good shape and showing all the right signs is just fantastic news.

“It’s been tough for us all the last few months as the weighing room is a big family and we all look out for each other. We’ve been there for the Moores and to support the family as much as we could.

“Josh is a hugely popular guy, he’s a fantastic jockey and absolutely brilliant horseman, but an even better character. Nothing ever seems to faze him, he was always laughing and smiling in the weighing room and a huge competitor.”

Daryl Jacob: 'Josh is a remarkable character and very strong'Credit: Edward Whitaker

David Bass, the Professional Jockeys Association’s jumps president, said the weighing room had been hoping for some positive news for such a "well-respected family", with Moore's brothers Jamie and Ryan professional riders and sister Hayley a presenter for Sky Sports Racing.

“We’re all so relieved to hear the positive news. Josh is so popular in the weighing room and it was really good to hear he is making good progress,” said Bass.

“Jamie [Moore] is similarly very popular and a big character and it’s hard to know what him and the family have been going through. We’ve all been hoping for some positive news and they’re such a well respected and liked racing family – we’ve really been feeling for them.

“Josh is used to being mentally very strong as he’s had a lot of injuries, so his toughness is obviously coming through again.”

Sam Twiston-Davies: 'It was great to read the really good reports – it really lifts the mood'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Sam Twiston-Davies echoed his weighing room colleague’s thoughts, saying Moore “is a friend to so many” in the sport.

Twiston-Davies said: “We’ve been speaking a lot to Jamie to see how Josh is getting on and it was great to read the really good reports yesterday – it really lifts the mood. John Reddington [amateur jockey] gets in to see Josh quite a lot and John has been writing on his whiteboard what times his rides are and Josh has been giving him some jockey coaching tips.

“He’s been in everyone’s thoughts and the Moores are incredibly kind and a great family. They’ve done so much for the sport and Josh is a weighing room colleague and friend to so many – he means so much to an awful lot of people.

“He’s incredibly popular and very few people would ever have had a cross word with him. He’s a very fair jockey and a very good one and you could have a chat with him about anything – he’s very understanding.”

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'His progress has baffled doctors' – family buoyed by positive Josh Moore update

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