Jockey Barry Geraghty is confident he will be back to full fitness in time for the 2017 Cheltenham Festival next month.
Geraghty, who has a host of big mounts for the event at Prestbury Park, was taken to hospital on Saturday after suffering a nasty fall in the Grade Two BetBright Genius Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton Park.
The 37-year-old rider, who won the Grand National in 2003 on Monty’s Pass, fell from favourite Charli Parcs at the second-last before taking a hefty kick into the upper body from a following horse.
He was taken to St George’s Hospital for a thorough assessment after the race but the jockey is feeling optimistic about his chances of featuring at Cheltenham in March.
Speaking on www.attheraces.com on Saturday evening, Geraghty said: “Charli Parcs just stepped at the flight and came down. I got a bit of a kicking from Harry Skelton’s horse Bedrock who was coming behind us. I was sore afterwards so I gave up the rest of my rides in the day.
“The prognosis is not too bad. I have a slightly collapsed lung and a cracked rib, and the doctors are hopeful that I will be back in time for the Cheltenham Festival. I’m hopeful too.”
