COUNTY DURHAM jockey Connor Beasley is "talking but groggy" after undergoing surgery on a fractured skull.

The rider, who hails from Spennymoor and is one of the stable jockeys at Michael Dods' Denton Hall yard, sustained the injury in a fall at Wolverhampton on Tuesday when his mount, Cumbrianna, fell over two furlongs from home in the opening six-furlong handicap.

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

The jockey was transferred from the course by air ambulance to the North Staffordshire Hospital, in Stoke, for further treatment.

His agent Richard Hale said: "He underwent surgery on a fractured skull (on Tuesday 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. We will probably know a bit more later."

Bilash's rider, Martin Dwyer, was also stretchered off the track and taken by road to New Cross Hospital, in Wolverhampton, where he underwent treatment on an injury to his left forearm.