‘Long way to go’, but Clifford Lee reported in good spirits

Karl Burke reports his stable jockey Clifford Lee to be “in good spirits” as he continues to recover from the injuries he suffered in a motorbike accident last month.

Lee has enjoyed a breakthrough season, highlighted by a first Group One success aboard Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny as well as several other big-race wins through the likes of Royal Champion, Al Qareem and Convergent.

With the rider serving a suspension after winning on his last four rides, he enjoyed a short holiday in Greece before heading to Scotland with his family where he fell when riding a cross-country motorbike, leading to him suffering a neck injury which left him in intensive care.

Lee is set for an imminent move to a hospital closer to home before surgeons decide whether he will require an operation.

Speaking on Wednesday, Burke said: “I went to see him yesterday and he’s still up in Edinburgh, but hopefully in the next day or two he’s moving down to James Cook (University Hospital in Middlesbrough).

“He’s in good spirits, but he’s got a long way to go. He’s restricted, but he is mobile and can walk – he’s got full movement bar he can’t move his neck.

“We’ve still got to wait to see whether he’ll be operated on or not, they’ll make that decision at James Cook. There’s a little bit of debate as to whether he needs it or not so he’s going down to James Cook and they’ll make the final decision.

“He’s in a halo brace at the moment. As I say he seems in good spirits, but it’s a tough one for him.”