IT was good to see Sligo-born jockey Derek Fox partner his first winner since his latest return from injury when the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore-trained Spadestep (1/4) landed the opening novices’ hurdle at Hexham last Friday week.

The dual Grand National-winning jockey, who fractured a vertebra, collarbone and rib when unseated at Sedgefield in March, was on the mark again two days later at Kelso where, for the same connections, he partnered Conman John (4/11) to victory in another opening novices’ hurdle.