Jockey Harry Cobden to return at Newton Abbot on Friday

Harry Cobden is counting down the days until his return to action after having facial surgery.

Paul Nicholls' number one jockey fractured his right cheekbone in two places in a fall on Grand National day.

The April 10 incident, which ruined his hopes of riding Sir Alex Ferguson's horse Give Me A Copper in the big race, has kept him on the sidelines since.

If given the all-clear by the British Horseracing Authority, Cobden plans to return at Newton Abbot on Friday.

"It will be nice to be back," he said.

"I have a couple of good rides to look forward to.

"The injury has healed well. At the time it was uncomfortable, in the fall I took a blow to the side of my face.

"They had me straight in for an operation to have a plate fitted. I can't thank everyone who has helped me enough."

Cobden suffered the injury when Lucky One came down four hurdles from home in a Grade 1 novice event.

He was knocked out in the fall and was eventually walked into a nearby ambulance, assisted by weighing room colleague Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Cobden missed riding Give Me A Copper in the National, which was won by Rachael Blackmore on Minella Times.

A couple of weeks ago, he began riding out at Nicholls' Ditcheat stable in preparation for his comeback.

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