Baker relieved to be back at the scene of most memorable day

A year ago he was basking in the applause and congratulations after riding Harbour Law to a historic win in the St Leger.

George Baker is thankful to even be able to make the trip back to Doncaster on Saturday as guest of this year's sponsor William Hill after a life-changing experience in February.

Riding at St Moritz on the frozen lake track, Baker was involved in a pile-up towards the finish of the first race and was thrown head first into the ice and snow, suffering serious head injuries with bleeding on the brain.

Baker said on Friday: "It's nice to be coming back for the St Leger. It'll be strange to be here just as a spectator but it's nice to get out and do things that are normal.

"For any jockey the dream is always to win a Classic and to do it on a horse when it was unexpected made it even more special. We hoped he would do it and we got the bit of luck we needed, but we never came here thinking we'd win."

Keen on Stradivarius

Baker is still on the long road back from the head injuries that left him having to learn to walk again during his recovery, first in intensive care in Switzerland and then back in London.

Baker said: "I'm doing everything I can do. I'm doing everything I’ve been advised to do and it’s going as well as it can be. When I’m ready and I can I hope I can push on."

The next most important question is who is going to follow Harbour Law and Baker?

"Stradivarius is the one I like," said Baker, who has ridden many winner in the colours of the horse's owner Bjorn Nielsen. "The more it dries the better his chances and all he does is stay."