McCoy confident of speedy return

Tony McCoy is confident of a swift return to the saddle after suffering a major injury scare at Plumpton yesterday.

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.

McCoy saw a facial surgeon this morning and he told attheraces that he was upbeat about his prospects.

“I’m feeling fine, other than my face is a bit of a mess. But hopefully I don’t have to have any surgery on it and that’s a good sign,” he said.

“I’m not in that much pain and if it were up to me I would ride tomorrow. I’ll just have to see what Dr Turner (the Jockey Club’s chief medical adviser) thinks, but I’ve had a specialist look at it this morning 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.”