Pat Smullen: I’m going to enjoy this Christmas an awful lot more than any other

Pat Smullen is recovering well and is looking forward to spending Christmas at home in Rhode, County Offaly, alongside his family.

Since being diagnosed with cancer in March of this year, the nine-time champion jockey has suffered difficult times, but an operation to remove a tumour on his pancreas six weeks ago went well, and Smullen has issued a positive bulletin on his progress.

The 41-year-old has even indicated that he may be in attendance at Leopardstown during the festive period, but insists he is still taking it one day at a time as he recovers from major surgery.

Pat Smullen: the nine-time champion jockey is recovering wellCredit: Edward Whitaker

“I’m home for Christmas and Leopardstown have kindly invited me to the festival and I may go, but it’s very much one day at a time,” Smullen said.

“We’ll see how we are closer to the time but there’s a chance I’ll pitch up at Leopardstown for one of the days. We’ll play it by ear. If I’m not in attendance, I’ll be watching in at home, that’s for certain.”

Smullen added: “Thank God, everything has been going well. It’s been a tough six weeks or so as I had a little bit of a complication from my surgery, but all that’s resolved now.

“The surgery went extremely well, and I’m very thankful for that, and every day is getting better. I’m recovering well and I’m starting to get back into good shape.”

As well as his nine Flat jockeys' titles and two apprentice championship victories, Smullen has won nine Irish Classics, all of which have been recorded for Dermot Weld, for whom he has been stable jockey since 1999.

Among those Classics were Irish Derby heroes Grey Swallow (2004) and Harzand (2016), the latter completing the Epsom and Irish Derby double, as well as four Irish St Legers on Vinnie Roe, but Smullen’s latest battle would be his biggest triumph yet.

Speaking about the next step in his recuperation, Smullen said: “I have to go back [to the doctors] and I may need a final course of treatment, but that decision will be made in January.

“I’m not sure what the next step will be.”

Pat Smullen (right) and Dermot Weld with their trophies after winning the 2016 Irish Derby with HarzandCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On his plans for Christmas, he added: “We’ve always enjoyed Christmas as I wasn’t riding as much during this period throughout the past number of years. We have a young family and Christmas has always been an important time of year – I’m going to enjoy this Christmas an awful lot more than any other.

“Everybody has been extremely supportive and it goes to show how great an industry this is that when the chips are down people rally around you – that has certainly been the case with me. A lot of people have been very helpful and it’s nothing short of humbling.

“I wasn’t up to watching a whole pile of racing when I was in hospital, but I watch it every day now. When you can’t do anything it’s a great way to pass the day, but thankfully I’m beginning to get out and about again.”

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