Ray Cochrane was back in the saddle today for the first time since being injured in an horrific plane crash four weeks ago.
'I rode work on Fantazia for James (Fanshawe) this morning. I went to Addenbrooke's Hospital yesterday just to check up on my eye. I've got to pass Dr Turner (the Jockey Club's chief medical adviser) during the week sometime, but I'm in good form anyway,' Cochrane told Channel 4's racing programme 'The Morning Line'.
Cochrane and fellow jockey Frankie Dettori were injured when their light aircraft crashed at Newmarket claiming the life of the pilot Patrick Mackey.
Cochrane suffered burns to his arms, bruising to his lower back, facial swelling and blurred vision in one eye.
'The bottom of the back is not too bad, it's okay. It has been worse, it's mending up well. I am hoping that in a week or so I'll be okay.'
He aims to return to race-riding for Newmarket's three-day July meeting starting on Tuesday week.
'I'm fine, you have to come to terms with these things. There's nothing you can do. You can't hide away from these things. It's life.
'These things creep up now and again. They happen to people and we were just unfortunate on that day. But you've got to cope with these things.'
'If we hadn't clipped the top of the bank, Patrick would have had the plane flattened out, there's plenty of room. We were just very unlucky.' -PA
