Jason Maguire has been brought out of an induced coma after he had part of his liver removed following a nasty fall at stratford on Monday.
The Grand national-winning jockey rode the John Quinn-trained scots Gaelic in a two-mile handicap hurdle when he was unseated at the second flight and kicked in the stomach by another horse.
Maguire was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry, where X-rays revealed he suffered a fractured sternum and bleeding on his liver.
His wife Lauren was at his bedside yesterday when his other visitors included his agent Chris Broad, who reported earlier in the day that the surgeon had been happy with the way the operation went. "Chris has been with him since lunchtime at the hospital in Coventry," said Broad's wife, Jane, yesterday evening. "Jason has been brought round out of his induced coma throughout the day.
I think he's very aware of who's around him - his wife, as well as Chris and he's had a few other very close friends in to see him today. "at the moment, fingers crossed, it's going in the right direction."
Maguire was due to be in action at the Cheltenham Festival this week, with Rsa Chase hope Corrin Wood one of his headline rides today.
* CONDITIONS at Cheltenham were officially described as good, good to soft after racing on the opening afternoon. A day of sunshine saw a change from the previous good to soft, good in places.
Clerk of the course simon Claisse: "The going is now good, good to soft in places on the old Course. "The cross country, which we are using tomorrow, remains good to soft, soft in places."
* AN attendance of 57,098 on Champion Hurdle day was up 814 from last year.
Ian Renton, Regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses south West, said: "I am really thrilled with such a strong crowd figure today. To be up 814 on the previous highest attendance for the opening day is really terrific."
* PATRICK Mullins has let his heart rule his head in his decision to partner Black Hercules in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham today.
The amateur rider son of trainer Willie Mullins has plumped for Black Hercules over stablemates killultagh Vic and shaneshill in a race his father has already won a staggering eight times.
He knows all three horses well having ridden them in all their bumper races so far, but Black Hercules, a convincing winner of both his starts under Rules, is the one for him as he was jointly responsible for buying him. "Myself and my cousin (Emmet) bought Black Hercules as a young horse so I have an affinity for him. That's why I'm on him, " he said.