Andrew Tinkler suffers triple fracture after Doncaster fall

Jockey Andrew Tinkler faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking three bones in his face at Doncaster on Saturday.

Tinkler was riding the Henry Daly-trained Atlanta Ablaze in the Listed mares' chase when she unseated him at the ninth fence.

"I've fractured my jaw, cheekbone and eye socket," said Tinkler. "I went to hospital in Sheffield after leaving Doncaster and was looked after by everyone, so I'd like to thank all the staff at both for that."

He added of his injuries: "They're fractured in good places, as far as these things can be. The specialist told me the jaw's a clean break and it looks as though the pupil is undamaged, so that's positive news. It's just whether the cheekbone forms the callus like it should.

"It's too early to say when I might be back riding. I've spoken to [chief medical advisor] Jerry Hill at the BHA and hopefully we'll be know more early next week. The BHA have medical protocols with fractures and it'll be a good couple of weeks at the very least."

Tinkler, who has ridden primarily for Daly and Martin Keighley in recent seasons, is on seven winners for the season and said: "It's an unlucky time to do it as I had some nice rides and there's lots of racing, but it is what it is and could have been a lot worse."

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