MANSELL IMPROVING SLOWLY Jimmy Mansell remains in a serious condition in Castlebar Hospital nearly two weeks after sustaining head injuries in a fall at Ballinrobe, writes Alan Magee.Turf Club doctor Walter Halley said at Leopardstown this afternoon, `Jimmy`s level of consciousness has improved, and he is off the intravenous feeding system and eating normally. His response to stimulus has improved but as yet has not spoken a word. We are still dealing with a serious head injury situation.`Halley has put in motion the process of switching the Limerick rider from Castlebar to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, and hopes he will get a place in the specialist head injury unit within the next few weeks. `We will not know the long term prognosis for at least another three months as the inflammatory effect settles down,` said Halley, who made a point of thanking the job done by the racecourse officials at Ballinrobe and all the staff at Castlebar Hospital.Mansell, the champion claiming rider last season, was `rolled on and kicked` after his mount Showboat Melody fell in a hurdle race at the western venue, and Halley revealed that `the helmet took the full impact of the kick`.Alan Magee
