Rex Dingle writes off title bid with neck injury set to keep him out this summer

Rex Dingle has written off a challenge for the conditional jockeys' title as he recovers from a back and neck injury suffered in a fall at Ffos Las.

The 21-year-old rider suffered a fracture to his C7 vertebra in the fall aboard Soulsaver this month, and is now wearing a neck brace for the next stage of his recovery.

Dingle, who celebrated his first victory in April last year, enjoyed a vintage 2018-19 with 32 winners, helped by an excellent spell in the winter when he notched 19 successes in three months.

He said on Wednesday: "I'm back home and I'm just mending up, I've got to go for an x-ray tomorrow and this is all thanks to Dr Jerry Hill who has been looking after me very well.

"I've torn a ligament which goes from my C2 to my C7 so I have a big neck brace that goes on to as low as my last rib. Dr Hill says it is unpredictable how long it will take to heal, they were more worried about that than the bone as it keeps my spine stable. Hopefully that should just heal with time.

"If that all goes well then hopefully I will just be resting up before going to Oaksey House. I don't know exactly when I will be back but I don't think I'll be sitting on a horse for at least two months."

Rex Dingle won the London National aboard Morney Wing last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The injury aboard Soulsaver, who suffered a fatal fall, came after a decent start to the new season for Dingle, who had registered three winners.

"It is slightly frustrating," said Dingle. "I had a few winners on the board and had a bit of momentum going which I wanted to carry on throughout the summer.

"I thought – with a bit of luck – I might be in with a shout for the conditional [title] but there's some good lads riding plenty of winners [at the moment] so I won't be thinking of that, I will just try to enjoy the winter.

"It's never a good time to be injured but if there was any it would be now. Richie McLernon gave me some advice to switch off from racing, try not to worry about what I might be missing and enjoy the time off."

He added: "I was fortunate that I had good people to ride for and the horses were winning, but it was great to be riding nice horses. It would be great if that could continue when I come back."

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