Return in sight for Lorcan Murtagh after bone-crunching Kelso fall

A return to race-riding is in sight for rider Lorcan Murtagh, whose femur was broken in five places following a bone-crunching spill at Kelso in January.

Murtagh was riding Nakadam for his father Barry when the veteran fell in a handicap chase and brought down another runner, who crumpled on the 23-year-old, meaning an enforced spell on the sidelines.

The jump jockey, who is linked to Harry Fry's successful Dorset operation, said on Sunday: "I've started riding out again at Harry's this week and will take it from there. Everything is going well and hopefully it won't be much longer before I'm back on a racecourse.

"I've got to ride out for two weeks before I get passed fit, so I've another week to go and it's been good. I haven't set a date when I'll be back – I've just left it up to when my body is ready, but I feel good.

"The recovery has gone well. I needed a second operation to take a screw out of my knee, which was causing a few problems, but apart from that it's been smooth.

"Dealing with it hasn't been too bad and I think when you've had injuries before it helps when you're off again; you don't get used to it, but you know what's coming."

Lorcan Murtagh after his Eider victory on Rocking BluesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Murtagh, whose younger brother Connor rides on the Flat, was happy with how things had been going before his injury setback and is firmly fixed on the future.

"I'd love to have ridden my claim out by the end of 2022," added the rider, who won the Eider Chase on Rocking Blues in 2016.

"I've got seven winners left to do that and I'd also love to get 20 winners by the end of the season.

"That's been a massive aim of mine for the last few years and I was one short in 2018, so 20 is a big goal."

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