Kelly in intensive care after fall

Leading Irish jump jockey Kieran Kelly is heavily sedated in intensive care in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after suffering serious head injuries in a fall at Kilbeggan on Friday evening.

Kelly, who had earlier won the Foster And Allen (Mares) Maiden Hurdle on Barrack Buster, was riding the Dessie Hughes-trained Balmy Native in the Joe Cooney Memorial Handicap Chase when the horse fell at the fifth fence from home.

Kelly, who is stable jockey to Hughes, was kicked on the head and Balmy Native then rolled on top of him.

The paramedics were quickly on the scene and he was rushed to Tullamore Hospital before being transferred to Beaumont.

After visiting the hospital on Saturday, Turf Club medical officer Walter Halley told the Racing Post: “I have discussed things with the consultant and with Kieran’s family but beyond that I am not prepared to make any statement until Sunday.”

Timmy Murphy, who won the race on Central Billing, also told the Racing Post: “Kieran’s horse fell in front of me and he overjumped. The horse rolled on him but it looked to me as if the damage was done by one of the others.”

Kelly, 25, comes from Carbury in Co Kildare. He was apprenticed to Mickey Flynn but joined Hughes when the former gave up training.

He had his best season in 2000-2001 with 32 winners and has won four times on Hughes’ smart performer Hardy Eustace, including the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.