Winston upbeat after horror fall

Robert Winston insists the broken jaw he sustained at Ayr has galvanised his desire to be crowned champion jockey in 2006.

Winston was leading the jockeys’ championship this year but suffered a horror fall aboard Pearl’s A Singer at the Scottish track last Saturday evening.

Although the Irish rider underwent a four-hour operation to insert six plates in his jaw and cheekbone, Winston is relishing returning to the saddle, and is confident of his chances next season.

“It’s no use dwelling on what might have been,” he told the Racing Post. “I can’t complain. I’m lucky to be here at all after what happened to me and I’ve had a fantastic season.

“I’ve ridden 115 winners in all – more than 80% of the jockeys in the weighing room will ride – and I’ve made a lot of new contacts for next year when I’ll be going all out for the title again. The whole experience has, if anything, made me even more determined.”