Limerick jockey fighting for his life after fall

Racing last night rallied around another stricken Irish jockey, as Limerick’s Brian Toomey battled “life-threatening” injuries following a heavy fall in Scotland.

Toomey is reported to be in a “stable condition” after suffering serious injuries on Thursday at Perth.

The Croom man is a distant relative of fellow Limerick jockey JT McNamara, who suffered partial paralysis after a neck injury sustained at the Cheltenham festival.

Toomey was partnering the Lisa Harrison-trained Solway Dandy in a Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle when the 11-4 favourite came to grief three flights from home. Toomey was transported to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital by road.

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said Toomey was “suffering from a life-threatening head injury”.

A statement released by the Injured Jockeys’ Fund yesterday said: “Following his fall at Perth racecourse yesterday, jockey Brian Toomey was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. He remains in intensive care in a stable condition and his mother and sister are both with him. It is unlikely there will be a further update for 48 hours.”

Toomey is attached to the yard of Kevin Ryan in North Yorkshire and is the boyfriend of the trainer’s daughter, Amy.

Champion jockey AP McCoy tweeted: “Thoughts and prayers are with Brian Toomey who had a very serious fall at Perth, let’s hope he will be ok.”