'His wife drove nearly four hours to get him' - Curtis sidelined with Ayr injury

Ben Curtis faces an extended spell on the sidelines after he dislocated his shoulder mid-race at Ayr on Thursday.

Curtis looked set to make a big challenge on the Roger Fell-trained End Zone in a mile handicap, but he was forced to ride the finish with one arm after dislocating his right shoulder when using the whip.

The 33-year-old also dislocated his shoulder while riding Crack Regiment to victory at Newcastle in June 2021 and subsequently took five months out over the winter to rectify the issue with surgery.

However, it reoccurred at Haydock in May, from which he bounced back quickly, but the injury sustained at Ayr will force him to take an extended period away from the track.

"His shoulder popped," said Curtis's agent Simon Dods. "He went to University Hospital Ayr and his wife Shauna drove nearly four hours to go and get him.

"He was very positive on the phone, he's absolutely fine today. He'll be taking a break and will see a specialist – he'll be out for a little while."

Although frustrated, Curtis is keen to put the issue behind him according to Dods and is focusing on getting back in the saddle in the near future.

"The last time it happened he was only out for a week and came back and rode winners straight away," he added. "This time he really wants to get it back to 100 per cent so he can get back to doing what he does best – riding winners."

Dandalla (left) streaks clear under Ben Curtis to win the AlbanyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Curtis has been prolific since posting his first century of winners in 2018. He rode 170 winners in a career-best 2020 campaign that also saw him partner his first Royal Ascot winner when Dandalla won the Albany Stakes.

A Group 2 winner aboard Sir Busker at York earlier this year, he was operating at a 19 per cent strike in 2022 and was just four winners shy of a century.

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