GRADE 1-winning jockey Jonathan Moore says it is unclear when and if he will be able to return to race-riding as he recovers from a back injury that has kept him on the sidelines since November.

The 29-year-old, who partnered Flooring Porter to victory in the Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle in 2020, suffered a heavy fall from Foxy Jacks over Aintree’s Grand National fences in the Topham Handicap Chase last April, when fracturing the biggest vertebra in his back.

Rods were placed either side of the damage and the Co Wexford native spent six months on the sidelines until returning in October. However, a fall while riding out the following month saw one of the rods become displaced.

Moore is now pushing hard in rehabilitation work to get back in the saddle, but he admits to being in the dark at present on his potential return.

“I had been back riding and going all right since returning but unfortunately I got a fall and one of the rods in my back shifted,” Moore told The Irish Field.

“The professional advice I received was not to undergo surgery with it, so I’m rehabbing the injury at the moment. I’m swimming and doing plenty in the gym, working through physio as well. The rod moving was causing me significant pain.

Unclear timeline

“It’s a bit up in the air at the moment as to what can or will be done. Dr Jennifer Pugh and my surgeon Paddy Kenny will guide me on it. It’s unclear when I’ll be able to get back, or if I’ll be able to get back from it. I’m doing everything I can to be in a position to return.

“Where the break is, and where the burst fracture was, is a bit fragile so we’re trying to get it back as strong as we can through rehab work before anything else.”

The Kerry National and Charlie Hall Chase-winning rider, who previously served as stable jockey to Gavin Cromwell, believes opportunities could be on the table for him to make an impact if and when he resumes race-riding.

“I had been riding freelance when I returned and was in plenty of different yards, things were busy and I was delighted by how it was shaping up,” said Moore.

“There have been some high-profile jockeys retire in recent times and I’d be hoping there’s an opening along the way to get back up the ladder as a Grade 1-winning jockey. If I’m able to get back, which I very much hope I can, there seems to be opportunities there.”