Dominic Elsworth made a fairytale comeback after 14 months out through injury with victory on Edgbriar for Banbury trainer Paul Webber at Cheltenham on Saturday, writes RUSSELL SMITH.
The Lambourn-based jockey had been on the sidelines since a fall from Keepitsecret at Ffos Las last year.
It left him with a bruised brain and post-concussion syndrome, which brought on dizziness and lack of balance.
But on his first ride back, fittingly for Webber’s Mollington stables where he rides out twice a week, he made a dream return on the eight-year-old in the featured zeturf.com Handicap Chase.
Elsworth always had his mount in a handy position and after a terrific round of jumping, he powered the 14-1 shot up the hill to beat Chaninbar by half a length.
After receiving a warm reception on his return to the winner’s enclosure, Elsworth said: “Getting back was always my priority and it’s a huge relief that normal service has been resumed.
“With a head injury it’s quite a grey area, especially when you turn to medication, but they did say it would get better.
“It was a long time to be out, but I kept on believing and it came off in the end.”
Webber added: “Usually you applaud a great horse back into this place, but this is different. It’s not about winning money, it’s more a human story and today is all about Dominic.”
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