Duffield in hospital with cracked rib

George Duffield was taken to hospital suffering from a cracked rib after being kicked by an intended mount at Warwick yesterday.

The 57-year-old veteran of the weighing room was detained overnight at Warwick General Hospital for observation.

He was kicked in the stomach as he attempted to mount Burton Ash in the parade ring before the EBF Primrose Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

His wife Ann, who trains from their stables at Constable Burton in North Yorkshire, dashed from saddling runners at Doncaster to be at his bedside.

She said: “He’s cracked a rib. They have X-rayed him, taken blood tests and given him a scan because they were concerned there might be internal damage because it was such a bad kick.

“Thankfully he’s not done any internal damage. His liver’s okay. It could have been a lot worse.

“He went to get on the horse. He had the reins in his hands ready to jump on. It lunged forward and double-barrelled him in the stomach with both back legs.”