'It’s been a long road' - Liam Jones to return after overcoming serious injuries

Former top apprentice Liam Jones is on the verge of making a comeback nearly 18 months after suffering a serious stalls injury that nearly ended his race-riding career for good.

Earlier this week the 35-year-old was back on a horse for the first time since the incident at Chelmsford in November 2019 which almost led him to pursue an alternative career as a BHA steward.

Finally, after making a full recovery from a lingering hip injury with the help of an expensive cortisone injection, Jones has returned to riding out in Newmarket for his old mentor William Haggas.

Haggas has supplied the lion’s share of Jones' haul of almost 500 winners since he started out as an apprentice in 2003, with multiple black-type victories including the Group 2 Diadem Stakes in 2008 with King's Apostle.

Jones said: “It’s been a long road back since that night at Chelmsford when, as well as damaging my hip, I also tore away two centimetres of my stomach which has taken forever to recover. I did always want to come back but at one point it just wasn’t getting any better and I did a bit of shadow stewarding just in case.”

William Haggas: Liam Jones is back riding out for the Newmarket trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

The jockey, who enjoyed his best season in 2007 with 65 winners, recalled the circumstances surrounding his injury sustained aboard the Mark Loughnane-trained Nananita: “The horse was messing around and she had her head over into the next gate. I shouted to the starter not to let them go but after I’d straightened her up I somehow caught my foot on the side of the gate and when she jumped I twisted my leg round which was pretty painful. I stayed on board and rode the race on adrenaline I reckon but afterwards I was in a bad way.”

Jones rode work for Haggas for the first time in two years on Thursday morning and is hoping to be back race-riding next month.

He said: “It’s been a long road back but I’m in good shape now and have my weight down to 8st 1lb which is light for me, I’ve been training hard at Peter O’Sullevan House in Newmarket. William had always wanted me to come back and hopefully I could be back race-riding next month."

As stable number one rider Tom Marquand is in Australia for the next two months, Jones could get some support. He said: "William looks to have a strong team and hopefully the yard could have a good season in 2021."

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