Quail relishing return between the flags after injury lay-off

 Image © Healy Racing

The 2025 p2p.ie Champion Lady Rider Toni Quail is looking forward to returning to point-to-point action this season, having successfully made her comeback from the serious injuries that kept her on the sidelines for over a year.

Less than 24 hours after collecting her trophy, Quail suffered fractures to the C1 and C2 vertebrae in her neck, as well as T5, T6 and T7 in her back, following a fall at Punchestown in June 2025.

The lengthy recovery which followed left Quail watching from the sidelines, but having already returned to race-riding on the track, she is now looking forward to getting back between the flags.

"Recovery has been good. It was slow, very slow, and it was tough," Quail said.

"It was a long year and it was hard sitting back and watching. Sam's having the best year that he's ever had, but I can't thank the Injured Jockeys Fund enough and the crowd up in RACE; Gavin, Wayne, Alana and Jennifer, for their extraordinary work to get me back and as strong as basically where I left off."    

Quail's rehabilitation centred on rebuilding her strength, with much of her time spent at RACE as she worked towards getting back in the saddle.

"I just went to RACE for physio and gym work to get strong because that was my main priority, and I actually went and got my HGV licence in the process," she said.

"But other than that, I just focused on getting better and fit again."   

She has already made her competitive return on the track, initially partnering Bayswater Bloom in a bumper at Galway in August before subsequently returning to action over hurdles at Listowel.

Her return to point-to-pointing will bring Quail back to the sphere in which she enjoyed such a memorable 2024/25 campaign, with horses including Longhouse Star and Cosmic Blizzard playing an important role in her championship success.

"It meant the world to me. It was all I ever dreamed of, it was all amateur ladies, I presume, dream of, and it was great. I can't thank Sam enough for all of the support he gave me and the opportunities he gave me."    

Having made getting back on a horse her first target during the recovery process, Quail now heads into the new point-to-point season with that important milestone already achieved.

"My first goal was to get back on the horse," she said.

"This time last year I never thought I'd ride again, so I've reached one of my goals anyway, and anything after this is a bonus."