Cooper sidelined after breaking left leg in a fall

BRYAN COOPER, one of the up-and-coming stars of the weighing room, could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his left femur in a fall at Down Royal on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who enjoyed fantastic festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree as he announced himself to the racing public, was riding Tepalo in the 2m4f beginners' chase when the Tony Martin-trained six-year-old fell at the fifth. 

His agent Alan Donoghue said on Monday night that a suspected broken femur was feared and confirmed on Tuesday morning that his fears had come true.

"I'd say the contact with the ground did it and it's a clean break. I spoke to him last night and he was in good enough spirits," said Donoghue.

"It'll be a lengthy spell on the sideline but we can't know a time-frame. He is being operated on early in the afternoon.

"Bryan's horse brought down a horse ridden by another jockey of mine, Mark Enright, so it was a very worrying time for us all. Thankfully Mark was fine.

"Bryan has had an unbelievable season and everything had been going so well. It's one of those things that happens, unfortunately."

The Turf Club's chief medical officer Adrian McGoldrick said: "While it is a nasty injury, unfortunately it is a common injury. It should be four months at most. He should be back in time for Listowel [in September]."