There was something to celebrate on the Middleham gallops on 11^th January when popular jockey Joe Fanning resumed riding work for the first time since his horrific fall at Glorious Goodwood last summer. 

 Joe sustained a compressed fracture of the T4 vertebra in a fall resulting from a three-horse collision in the Totesport Mile. It looked a dreadful accident, and in many ways Joe is lucky not to have incurred an even more serious injury in the pile-up.

However, after a prolonged period of rest, Joe has now received the go-ahead to resume riding. The latest x-rays show that the injury has healed, allowing Fanning to think of resuming his successful riding career. He rode forty-four winners last term for the yard before the injury, and will look to pick up where he left off as soon as possible. 

 Joe commented recently: "The injury has cleared up so I started riding out on Friday and I've ridden out again this morning. I'm quite stiff so I am going to give it three weeks riding out and probably start back a month before the turf season starts. I should be back in action early to mid-February. I've had plenty of time off and I'm unfit, but the injury is clear." 

There’s little doubt that Joe’s absence helped Greg Fairley capture the apprentice title and both he and Greg can expect to be busy for the yard this year. We wish Joe well in recovering full fitness and in seeking to put himself at the top of our jockey standings as soon as possible the young whippersnapper is  building up a useful lead in the meantime!