Culhane faces spell on sidelines

Tony Culhane hopes to make a speedy return to action after fracturing an ankle and heel in a fall at Lingfield yesterday.

The rider was unshipped from Zonnebeke after he clipped the heels of La Calera in the first division of the Littlewoods Bet Direct AW Jockeys Championship Tri-Banded Stakes.

Although Culhane walked into the ambulance it later transpired that he had suffered more than just bruising but he still hopes to be riding again by New Year’s Day.

“I have spoken to Tony and he’s come out of hospital but we are gutted this has happened as he is flying at the moment,” said Culhane’s agent Mark Gilchrist.

“The main thing is to get him back race riding as soon as possible.

“He is going to see Dr Michael Foy tomorrow morning. He is a good man for helping jockeys get back in the saddle quickly. We will know more when he has examined Tony.”

Culhane has ridden 111 winners from over 1000 rides this year and he was in big demand for this weekend’s all-weather meetings.

“Tony already had 21 rides booked over the weekend and it looked as if would be on the first five favourites at Southwell on Sunday, so he would have been hoping for a winner or two,” added Gilchrist.