Inspiring BrianToomey glad to be back after horror fall at Perth

Brian Toomey may not have got the win he craved on his fairytale return to riding but the inspirational jockey was just glad to be back in the saddle at Southwell two years on from a fall at Perth that left him dead for six seconds.

Resuscitated but given only a 3% chance of survival, Toomey, 26, was last month issued with a licence after he was thrust on to the sidelines following the frightful spill from Solway Dandy on July 4, 2013.

The rider was placed in an induced coma in the high dependency unit of Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, for two weeks, and had surgery to reduce swelling on his brain, including the removal of part of his skull.

The Limerick man remained in hospital for 157 nights, but returned to the saddle yesterday.

Toomey’s first ride back saw him get the leg-up on Phil Kirby’s Kings Grey in the betbonus.com Claim Your Free Bets Now Novices’ Selling Hurdle and all appeared to be going to plan as he led at the second flight.

Jumping well from there, it looked like the odds-on favourite would give the racing world the result it wanted, but he seemed to lose his action and was eased and eventually pulled up before the home straight. The race went to 18-1 outsider Daizy.

Toomey said: “I felt relaxed enough, but the horse just didn’t feel 100%. It would have been a fairytale to have won, and he looked a good thing on paper, but he just didn’t feel right and I couldn’t ask him to carry on.

“I’ve been through the pain barrier and I didn’t want him to have to do it.

“I wanted to get today out of the way and get my career back on track.

“I have a point to prove now, I’ve worked very hard to get here and I wouldn’t have got back if it didn’t mean the world to me.”

Toomey’s mother Marian and sister Áine were proud, if nervous, onlookers, having travelled from Limerick.

His mother said: “We had a nice breakfast and then the reality began to sink in that he was going to ride again.”

Speaking before racing, his sister said: “I walked the track with him yesterday, just so he could gather his thoughts and everything.

“He said as soon as his speech returned that he was going to come back and we didn’t think he had a cat in hell’s chance, but just went along with it to begin with.

“He’s deserved it, he didn’t lie down down and fingers crossed he comes back safe.

“We’re petrified, but there was no way he’d listen to us, he wasn’t for turning.”