Fingers tightly crossed that Toole pulls through
The racing community is holding its collective breath and praying that young jockey Peter Toole pulls through after suffering a terrible fall at Aintree on Saturday from Classic Fly in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase, writes Elliot Slater.
The talented 22-year-old conditional rider who has enjoyed a very successful time of things this season, came down at the first fence on the 100/1 shot trained by Arthur Whiting and was immediately transported to Fazakerley Hospital where it was discovered that he had suffered a brain trauma. He was then moved again to a specialist care unit at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery where he was put into an induced coma. Those who use horse racing betting sites will have been keeping a close eye on the news hoping he pulls through.
Trainer Charlie Mann, for whom Toole is conditional stable jockey and who gave the young jockey his biggest career success so far when putting him up on Fine Parchment, winner of the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury a month ago, reported that Toole has suffered bleeding on the right side of the brain and is attached to a ventilator. He also sustained a dislocated shoulder which has already been put back into place.
As of Sunday, Toole's close friend and fellow weighing room colleague Dave Crosse reported that he had been in touch with Peter's father and that there was no news other than that he remains stable and still under sedation. On Friday afternoon Toole was aboard Fine Parchment in the Topham Chase and was prominent when his mount blundered and unseated him at Becher's. He got up unscathed from that tumble only to suffer the terrible fall from Classic Fly less than 24 hours later.
