Saturday 5 April 2014 06:51, UK
Mikey Fogarty will miss his ride on Vesper Bell in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday after fracturing two vertebrae in his back in a fall on Friday.
The Irish jockey could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks following his tumble from Bishopsfurze in the Crabbie's Supporting Everton In The Community Topham Chase over the famous fences on Friday.
"He's got two fractured two vertebrae in his back. He's had a scan and will have a further scan tomorrow morning to decide whether he needs surgery," said the Irish Turf Club's senior medical officer, Dr Adrian McGoldrick.
"He's going to be out probably for between eight to 12 weeks. That's what you would normally expect for that kind of injury."
The injury was confirmed by Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association. He tweeted: "Mikey Fogarty has fractured his T3 and T4 but they are stable. He'll stay in for at least one more night ahead of an MRI in the morning."
Fogarty's compatriot Paul Carberry still hopes to be fit to partner Monbeg Dude for Michael Scudamore after he was unseated from Kauto Stone at the eighth fence.
Like Fogarty, Carberry was taken to the University Hospital, Fazakerley, for precautionary X-rays for a possible pelvic injury. Struthers issued an update on his condition.
"Paul Carberry's scans/X-rays are clear so he is in the process of being discharged and will require RMO clearance tomorrow," he tweeted. Two other jockeys with rides in the National, Andrew Tinkler and Noel Fehily, took knocks in the same race.
Andrew Tinkler banged a wrist after Tanks For That fell at the 12th while Fehily had a problem with an elbow after he came down at the 15th on Fago. They missed their remaining rides.
Tinkler and Fehily will have to be passed fit by the racecourse doctor on Saturday if they are to take their National rides on Hunt Ball and Rocky Creek respectively.
Sean Quinlan was another to be hurt on the day when parting company with Party Rock in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
After being treated on the track he was also taken to Fazakerley for further assessment, although Struthers later confirmed he had been discharged.
He tweeted: "Good news that @SquinlanSean has been discharged with no serious injuries."
