Back injury sidelines Secret Squirrel

Hughie Morrison’s popular hurdler Secret Squirrel faces a long spell of recovery after sustaining a fractured lumbar vertebra when falling at Newbury earlier in the month.

The gelding, a smart performer with a distinctive flaxen mane and tail, suffered a heavy fall at the final flight in the William Hill Hurdle, coming down when challenging as the 100-30 favourite under Sean Bowen.

Both horse and rider got to their feet and Secret Squirrel cantered home loose, but he was not unscathed and was eventually sent to Donnington Equine Hospital to be assessed.

The vets there found he had suffered a fracture to his lumbar vertebrae, a serious injury that will require a significant amount of time to heal and leaves his future as a racehorse in some jeopardy.

The six-year-old is receiving the best possible care at Morrison’s Summerdown yard, where he is comfortable in his stable as he undergoes his convalescence.

“The fall he had at Newbury was not particularly nice, and it became apparent that evening that something wasn’t quite right when he returned to the yard,” the trainer said.

“We discovered quite quickly that there was a problem in the lumbar area, which suggested that there might be a fracture.

“We had to move him to Donnington for a scan and that confirmed a fracture to what I think is the L2 vertebra.

“We think he’s lucky to be alive, when the lumbar vertebrae are fractured that often means the spinal cord is involved and that means paralysis – I think he’s been very lucky.

“He’s very comfortable and bright, he’s moving around his box freely and happily. It’s all about the mending process now.

“He’s in the yard and he’s very happy and demanding carrots, he doesn’t seem to be in any pain, we just hope the healing process goes well.”