McCoy expects quick return to action
The champion jockey fractured his cheekbone in three places after Polar Red crashed out at the second fence in the Tyser Insurance Ltd Novices’ Chase.
He was kicked in the face and was sent to the nearby Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath for X-rays, although he was later allowed to go home.
However, McCoy saw a specialist yesterday morning and was told that he will not need surgery.
His personal assistant Gee Armytage said last night: “There are three fractures, but they are not displaced too badly and they have decided not to operate. AP hopes to be back on the track next week.
“He’s been in contact with Dr Turner (the Jockey Club’s chief medical adviser) today, and so have his specialists.
“They are all dealing with it together and Dr Turner is the man we will be guided by.
“Tony is very tough and if anyone is going to come back quickly, it is him, although if you looked at him you wouldn’t think he’d be riding for a day or two.”
McCoy said earlier yesterday that he was feeling “fine”.
“I’m not in that much pain and if it were up to me I would ride tomorrow,” he told attheraces.
“I’ll just have to see what Dr Turner thinks, but I’ve had a specialist look at it and he thinks there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be back riding pretty soon.
“I’ll just have to wait until the swelling goes down so they can have a good look at it again.”
There had been some speculation that McCoy would be able to ride in a mask, similar to that worn by those in other sports, most notably footballer Paul Gascoigne.
That possibility was quickly ruled out by officials at the Jockey Club, but McCoy added: “I wouldn’t need a mask. It’s not even that sore at the moment.
“I may have fractured something in three places but I haven’t had any painkillers.
“I’ll just have to wait and see, but the doctor this morning was very happy with it and didn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be back riding very soon.”
Meanwhile Hawk’s Landing gave owner JP McManus a welcome tonic amidst his Manchester United troubles by winning in the style of a horse with a bright future at Folkestone yesterday.
Although jockey Tom Siddall reckoned the folkestone-racecourse.co.uk Beginners’ Chase was “probably a weak race”, there was a lot to like about the winner’s performance.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained gelding, who went off at 9-2, accounted for former smart hurdler and 5-2 favourite Nonantais by seven lengths.
Nonantais tried to make all the running in the two-mile-five-furlong race and was well clear at one stage, but Hawk’s Landing collared him going to the last, travelling well.
The winner had fallen at Taunton on his chasing debut earlier in the month, but made up for that mistake in some style.
Leading Cheltenham Festival fancy Royal Emperor will have a final outing at Carlisle on Monday before taking on the best in his division next month.
Sue Smith’s charge was last seen cruising home in the Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby, and was put up by the influential Racing Post ‘Pricewise’ column yesterday as the one to be on in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase on March 17.
Coral have been forced to cut the eight-year-old to 12-1 from 14s, Paddy Power go 10-1 from the same price, while William Hill are 9-1, again from 14s.
“He is in very good order and I hope that we get to Cheltenham in one piece,” said Mrs Smith. “He is supposed to be running at Carlisle next week in a novice chase and will then head straight to the Festival.”
The gelding has only run over fences on three occasions, scoring on his two completed starts, with his only blip coming when falling at Warwick last month.
