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

Josh Moore, who was in critical care in hospital in April after complications resulting from a fall at Haydock, has made remarkable progress according to those closest to him, so much so that hope of an imminent return home now exists.

Moore was riding Gleno, who is trained by his father Gary, in a handicap chase when the ten-year-old fell heavily, causing serious injuries to the popular jump jockey, who broke his femur and ribs and also sustained a punctured lung and suffered damage to his back.

However, the 30-year-old, whose older brothers Ryan and Jamie are also professional riders, had a rare reaction while under sedation for an operation, which led to a serious chest infection.

Gary Moore: rider's fatherCredit: Edward Whitaker

More encouraging news about his condition emerged on Tuesday when his mother Jayne said: "Josh is doing well and in the last week he's shown huge improvement. He has begun to see a few visitors and I hope we get him home soon.

"Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I expect him to be in hospital this week and next week, and then we'd be looking at a transfer home with his partner Phoebe Cruse and their son Freddie, who can't wait to have him back, or as a day patient or something similar.

"I think he's baffled the doctors with his progress."

Moore, who won the 2015 Betfair Hurdle on Violet Dancer and became a Grade 1 winner later that year thanks to Ar Mad in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, 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.

"Once he came out of critical care he went to intensive care, but his nursing needs are nowhere near as great now," Moore added.

"He's walking, talking and his brain is functioning 100 per cent, which is fantastic. Even a week ago we didn't know where we were with Josh, but since Friday things have changed. It's the best news we could ever have had.

"He managed 15 minutes on the treadmill today and his progress has been remarkable. He'll either follow up his rehab at Oaksey House in Lambourn or Sir Peter O'Sullevan House in Newmarket, and all I know is Josh will be walking out of that hospital."

Moore is a big part of his family's operation, which enjoyed a winner at Brighton on Tuesday when On The Nose struck under Rhys Clutterbuck.

"It's a big change when Josh isn't there every day," Clutterbuck said, speaking to Sky Sports. "Mr Moore and all the Moore family keep their heads down and keep ploughing on and the yard has run smoothly even with Josh not there, but it's a big help when he's there.

"Thankfully, it is a miracle that he's fine and should be out of hospital soon. All the lads are chatting away to him and he's coming out of his shell a bit more."

Read more:

'Slight improvement' in Josh Moore's condition following complications

'Restful night' for Josh Moore as weighing-room colleagues pray for recovery

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