Master's jockey ready to remount

Racing

RICHARD EDMONDSON

Norman Williamson, out of the saddle with a broken leg since October, has surpassed the expectations of his doctors and has been declared fit to ride again. Thanks to the postponement of Leopardstown's Hennessy Gold Cup, Williamson will be able to resume his partnership with Master Oats, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, in the rescheduled race on Sunday.

The Irishman, who broke a femur in a fall at Sedgefield, was given a clean bill of health yesterday evening by his specialist, Michael Foy, who will now pass on his diagnosis to the Jockey Club's Dr Michael Turner.

Williamson has been riding out in Ireland for the last two weeks and would like to ride competitively as soon as possible. However, with British racing at the mercy of the weather, his return mount may be at Clonmel, in his homeland, on Thursday.

The jockey needs the activity to convince Kim Bailey, Master Oats's trainer, that he has recovered sufficiently to take the big-race ride. "Mr Bailey would like to see me riding over fences and I can see his point of view," Williamson said last night.