A fall during last week’s Grand National meeting has lead to lots of apprehension on Denman’s horse racing future. The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner had taken a fall at the last of Aintree’s Totesport Bowl.

After being taken off the track in a horse ambulance, everyone feared the worst. However, veterinarians have confirmed that Denman’s injury was not as bad as first feared. He only suffered from a cut high on his off-fore leg.

Paul Nicholls reveals that he is now cantering, and looks to be in great form. He says that Denman is a bit sore, and thus won’t be running for the remainder of this season. However, Nicholls does state that Denman, Kauto Star and some other horses will be out in a field by the second week of May.

Not only is Denman desperate to start racing, but jockey Hayley Turner is also waiting to get back into action. She was out of action for a month or so because of head injuries she had suffered in a stall accident on the Newmarket gallops.

Turner is the first female jockey in Britain who to ride more than 100 winners in a year, achieving the landmark last year (2008) and is now waiting for medics to give her the all clear to start riding again. She states that she is feeling a lot better, and is expecting a call from her doctor in a few days time telling her how much longer she has to avoid racing for before getting back in the saddle.

We hope her absence doesn’t last too much longer.