THERE was welcome news yesterday that jockey Davy Condon is recovering very well from spinal surgery performed earlier this week.

The Turf Club’s senior medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick reported that the jockey, who underwent surgery on Thursday morning, is already feeling the benefit.

“I spoke to Davy this morning (Friday) and he is the star of the hospital. There is already a marked improvement in his condition since the surgery which was performed by Professor Ciaran Bolger in the Hermitage Clinic,’’ said Dr McGoldrick.

Condon (30) sustained his injury when falling in the Aintree Grand National. The spinal concussion left him ‘paralysed’ for 10 minutes, a repeat of the condition he had suffered in a fall at Cork the previous August. On medical advice Condon retired from race-riding on his release from hospital in April.

In other weighroom news, jockey Colm Bolger fractured his collar bone in a fall at Wexford on Wednesday. Colm’s brother Mark is still attending the Dental Hospital in Dublin’s Lincoln Place after sustaining facial injuries in a recent fall.

Wexford Racecourse will be holding a bucket collection on Friday, July 3rd, in aid of injured jockey Robbie McNamara (26), who is recovering from spinal injuries sustained in a racing fall at Wexford, just before the Aintree Grand National.

The collection is being hosted by the racecourse supporters’ club and funds raised will go towards securing an altitude training machine for McNamara. A club spokesperson said: “This machine costs €600 monthly and is vital for Robbie’s full recovery.”

Meanwhile, apprentice jockey Ian Queally has donated £500 to the Irish Injured Jockeys. He won the £500 when his winning ride aboard King Of Oriel at Fairyhouse was voted Ride of the Month for May by At The Races viewers.