Josh Moore returns from three months on sidelines with Newton Abbot ride

Josh Moore returns from a three-month spell on the sidelines on Saturday when he partners Vorashann for his father, Gary, at Newton Abbot.

Moore, who was knocked out in a fall at Fontwell at the end of May, said: “I had quite bad concussion and only passed the concussion test last Friday.

“It’s taken a while for me to get cleared. It’s taken time for it to sort itself out. When I went for my first concussion test I wasn’t quite ready, so I’ve had to be patient.”

Vorashann, who contests the £15,000 feature handicap hurdle on the Newton Abbot card, warmed up with a spin on the Flat at Lingfield last month.

“Trip and track should suit him, and he’s got a definite chance,” Moore said. “It will be good to get back. Things don’t really get going over jumps until October, but we’ve a good team of horses for the winter.

“There’s plenty to look forward to. Horses like Benevolentdictator, who could be a Welsh National type, can only improve.”

Autumn fixtures at Southwell moved elsewhere due to track replacement work

The ongoing work at Southwell replacing the track's old Fibresand surface with Tapeta has resulted in seven upcoming fixtures being moved elsewhere.

Work installing Southwell's new track began on Monday after it hosted its final Fibresand meeting on Sunday and is expected to take three months to complete.

Five all-weather Flat fixtures between August 30 and November 2 have been shared around Britain's five other all-weather courses – Wolverhampton, Kempton, Newcastle, Chelmsford and Lingfield – and each will take place on its originally scheduled date.

Two September jumps fixtures, due to be held on the track's turf course, will also need rearranged, with new destinations not yet confirmed.

Fixtures moving from Southwell:

Monday, August 30, Flat – Wolverhampton
Tuesday, September 14, jumps – TBC
Tuesday, September 28, jumps – TBC
Tuesday, October 5, Flat – Kempton
Thursday, October 7, Flat – Chelmsford
Tuesday, October 26, Flat – Newcastle
Tuesday, November 2, Flat – Lingfield

Southwell officials last week said if work progresses as expected they are confident of holding its planned jumps card on October 28 before hosting its first fixture on the new Tapeta surface at the end of November.

Former jockey and trainer Jeremy Speid-Soote dies aged 80

Jeremy Speid-Soote, the former jockey and trainer, died at his Somerset home aged 80 on Wednesday following a brave battle against cancer.

Speid-Soote rode as a jump jockey, mostly for Ryan Price and Bill Marshall, posting more than 50 winners before transferring to the training ranks in 1970.

Four years later, having sent out a dozen winners, he went to work as assistant to Peter Walwyn, the highlight of his two years in the position being Grundy's 1975 Derby win.

After leaving Walwyn he had a stint as a stipendiary steward in Greece and later worked for the Stable Lads Welfare Trust. He also stewarded at Wincanton, Taunton and Bath.

Speid-Soote, who leaves a wife, Sue, a daughter, Caroline (Cantie), and granddaughter Tabatha, will be cremated privately next week.

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