CALLUM SHEPHERD is finally nearing his return to the saddle after another injury nightmare.
The Royal Ascot-winning jockey has been sidelined since the middle of April with a broken kneecap.
Callum Shepherd has suffered several nasty injuries in recent years Credit: Getty
Shepherd, 29, suffered the injury in late March when he banged his leg in the starting stalls, but he continued to ride for nearly three weeks.
The pain became too intense and X-rays showed he’d cracked his patella – the latest nasty injury he’s suffered over the last couple of years.
Shepherd was left with horrible facial injuries and a ‘’ after a fall at Ascot in July 2024.
And he was ruled out for three months last autumn, missing two Group 1 winners in the process, after breaking his heel at Longchamp in September.
He said: “It’s been a bit trickier than anticipated but it looks like we are getting there.
“I was on a horse who anticipated the start in late March and I banged by knee on the starting stalls.
“It was sore but I carried on riding, but the problem really started when I had a soft enough fall off a two-year-old on the gallops.
“I went for an MRI and found I’d basically cracked by knee cap. I was hoping to be back last month but there was a lot of swelling under the knee cap and it took a long time to subside.
“I’ve been to see specialists in London but thankfully I didn’t need any surgery. I’ve been in the gym at Peter O’Sullevan house every day building back up.
“It’s been tough, not the easiest 12 months by any stretch, but that’s sport and worse things have happened to better people.
“We are talking weeks now, hopefully a few weeks and when I’m back I’m confident I’ll be able to get rolling again.”
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