Jamie Codd is nearing a return to action following a short spell on the side lines following an injury sustained over Christmas.
The Wexford native was aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained form Triumph Hurdle winner, Farclas, in the Grade 3 Irish Independent Hurdle at Limerick on December 29th when the pair fell at the third flight of hurdles in the two-mile contest.
The heavy fall resulted in the former two-time champion rider sustaining a partially collapsed lung that has prevented him from riding between the flags in recent weeks.
However with the new four-year-old maiden season due to get underway at Ballinaboola and Bellharbour on the same weekend as his potential ride aboard the Elliott-trained Envoi Allen in the Grade 2 Bumper at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival, Codd is eyeing a return to the saddle on that first weekend in February, which he confirmed when appearing on Off The Ball’s Friday Night Racing.
“It was a simple enough fall in Limerick. I just thought that my ribs were broken, cause when I got my breath back I walked to the ambulance but then it went downhill then after that. In fairness to Richie Downey who was down there, the doctor on the day, he said getting into the ambulance ‘No, its your lung’.
“I thought that I might get back (riding out) last week, so I was a bit anxious this week, cause there is Leopardstown Racing Festival and these are the days that you want to be back racing for.
“Today (Friday) was the first morning riding out, so I did a little bit this morning and I’ll keep at it. I’m hoping to be back for next weekend proper and then we’ll see how it goes from there.”
As part of the one-hour programme, Codd who rode his 900th point-to-point winner at Loughanmore in November, spoke with Ger Kilroy and Johnny Ward about the current strength of the point-to-point racing in Ireland, his career so far and the support his family received following the passing of his older brother William last year.
You can rewatch the full episode of Friday Night Racing below.
