POPULAR northern jockey Connor Beasley is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a very nasty fall at Wolverhampton on Tuesday afternoon.

Beasley, who has made a big impression over the last couple of years, was in a stable condition on Wednesday after surgery on a fractured skull.

The rider sustained the injury when his mount Cumbrianna fell over two furlongs from home in the opening six-furlong handicap.

Cumbrianna, who was trained by Bryan Smart, had to be put down. The filly looked to have clipped heels before she fell and subsequently brought down the Sarah Hollinshead-trained Bilash, who appeared to kick Beasley.

The jockey, who is attached to Michael Dods' stable in County Durham, was transferred from the course by air ambulance to the North Staffordshire Hospital, in Stoke.

Smart said: "He's stable after his operation last night. All our thoughts are with Connor and his family.

"He won't be allowed visitors yet. He has his family with him, his fiancee and his mother, down there at the hospital.

"We'll go and see him as soon as we're allowed to."

His agent Richard Hale said earlier: "He underwent surgery on a fractured skull last night and came out early this morning. He has been talking to his family, but obviously he is very groggy and sore.

"The main thing is that he came through the surgery fine. Getting through that was the most important thing and fingers crossed it keeps going that way."

From one jockey who is in the wars to another jockey who has already made a miraculous recovery. Step forward Brian Toomey, who is all set to ride at Southwell on Sunday.

Toomey, 26, was last month issued with a jumps jockeys' licence after he was thrust onto the sidelines for two years following a frightful fall from Solway Dandy at Perth on July 4, 2013.

The rider was placed in an induced coma in the high dependency unit of Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, for two weeks, and had surgery to reduce swelling on his brain, including the removal of part of his skull.

He remained in hospital for 157 nights, but has now fulfilled every criteria needed from the British Horseracing Authority.

Toomey's first ride back will be at Southwell's jumps circuit when he gets the leg-up aboard the Phil Kirby-trained Kings Grey in a two-and-a-half-mile selling hurdle.

Kirby, though, says the returning jockey is not given any special allowances when he works the trainer's horses at his stables in Middleham.

"It's been an unbelievable week," he said.

"We've had amazing coverage from the media up here and I'm proud to play a little part in it. It's just a case of trying to do everything right by Brian, which is easier said than done.

"When he first came back in, I was a bit worried. There was obviously a question mark about how he was, and when he was schooling our horses I was just hoping nothing went wrong.

"But now we treat him the same as all the rest of the lads.

"He comes in every day and rides two, three and four lots – just like the rest of the jockeys here. He schools the good ones and he schools the bad ones as this is what he wants to do.

"It's a wonderful story to see him back riding, and riding so well."

Toomey appears to have a good chance of making a dream return in a moderate-looking race as Kings Grey was a winner at Aintree on his most recent start on June 12.

"He's a lovely, proper horse who is getting a bit older, but still has plenty of ability," said Kirby.

"At the moment, everything is grand with the horse. He's fit and well and ready to go.

"It should be decent ground at Southwell and that will help him, too. He's the right horse for Brian to come back on."

Kings Grey is likely to be Toomey's only mount on the card, said agent Dave Roberts.

Southwell racecourse embraced the news of Toomey's intended comeback at the Nottinghamshire circuit.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan said: "Everybody admires Brian greatly and we're very pleased that Southwell has been selected for his first ride back."

In Beasley and Toomey we have two ultra-tough sportsmen who we wish all the very best.