Geraghty likely to miss Punchestown

Barry Geraghty does not appear confident of playing any part in the Punchestown Festival as he continues to recover from injury.

The 35-year-old suffered a hairline fracture of his left tibia in a fall at Downpatrick last month and has not been back on a racecourse since.

The Irishman had hoped to return in time to ride superstar Sprinter Sacre at Sandown on Saturday but was unable to race, with pain still in his leg.

The highlight of the Irish National Hunt season is due to begin on Tuesday and will conclude on Saturday and, while the County Meath-born ace is not completely ruling out his prospects, he admits that the odds are not in his favour.

“I haven’t had the green light as yet, no,” he said. “At the moment it (the injury) is still not fully weight-bearing. There’s a small chance I could be back at the end of the week, but it’s only a small chance.”