Gold Cup-winning jockey Jack Kennedy suffers suspected broken arm at Navan

Jack Kennedy's wretched run of luck with injuries continued at Navan on Sunday, as the 22-year-old is set for yet another spell on the sidelines with a suspected broken arm following a fall from Wide Receiver in the beginners' chase.

Kennedy was upsides the winner Buddy Rich when he crashed out two fences from home and he was sent to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for x-rays on a suspected broken arm. Wide Receiver suffered a fatal injury from the fall.

Wide Receiver's trainer Gordon Elliott said: "Unfortunately it looks like Jack has broken his arm again. He's very sore and upset, so my heart goes out to him.

"Jack is an incredible talent – he's a brilliant lad, such a hard worker and a great rider – and we're behind him 100 per cent.

"All the good horses will be here for him when he comes back. Whenever Jack makes it back, we'll be here for him and so will all the horses."

Kennedy's injury woes began at Downpatrick in September 2016 when he fractured his right fibula, and he suffered a recurrence of that injury the following month at Thurles.

He then broke his left leg in May 2017 at Punchestown, which put him out of action for three months.

In February last year, just after winning the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Delta Work, Kennedy broke his right leg again in a fall from Dallas Des Pictons, which ruled him out for seven months.

Collarbone issues have also plagued him in the last few years, while his most recent setback before Sunday was damaged ribs in a fall at Roscommon on August 3. He returned from that injury in mid-September for the Listowel harvest festival.

Kennedy had been in fine form of late and had taken his tally to eight winners in just 11 days when winning the opening maiden hurdle at Navan on Ginto.

Read this next:

Title-chasing Skelton primes stars for Cheltenham Paddy Power meeting

The jumps season is here! Grab your copy of The Big Jump Off, our 72-page guide to the 2021-22 National Hunt season, from the Racing Post shop or from independent newsagents and many Co-Ops now. It contains a wealth of unbeatable content including ante-post tips, guest columnists, divisional analysis and much more. Don't miss out.