Ben Curtis return delayed by six-week wait for shoulder operation

Flat jockey Ben Curtis could have his return to the saddle delayed until the start of the turf season in March after an operation on his shoulder was put back by six weeks mainly due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The York-based rider finally underwent the operation at the city’s Nuffield Hospital last Friday and is now hoping a scheduled second operation on his feet goes ahead as planned next week.

Curtis last rode in October with the intention of getting his shoulder repaired later that month. He had an eye on returning in February but that now looks unlikely.

He said: “Initially, when the operation was first delayed, I was a bit annoyed about it all, but looking at the bigger picture it’s happening to everyone. There are people who are in a lot worse situation than me who are getting their operations postponed.

“Luckily, I got in for my shoulder operation last Friday and the surgeon Simon Boyle could not have been happier with the way it went. I was back home later that day and it’s three weeks of rest now in a sling doing gentle stretches and not much else.“

Curtis, who rode 123 winners on turf and the all-weather this year, first dislocated his shoulder in a fall at Newcastle last year and decided to have it operated on after it popped out again at the same track in June.

Ben Curtis: wins the Listed Betfair Pretty Polly Stakes on Mystery AngelCredit: Getty Images

The jockey, who has also had issues with his feet and is to undergo further surgery, added: “I’m in for my feet operation on December 16 and I won’t be doing much over Christmas, but it’s not a bad time to be stuck in the house, to be honest. It could be worse and hopefully I can crack on with the recovery come the middle of January.

“The shoulder will be a slow process building up the ligaments and tendons. The main thing is I’ve had it done and when the feet are fixed I should be back to brand new.

"Hopefully, I could make it back before the start of the turf season, but we’ll play it by ear.”

Curtis struck up decent relationships with George Boughey in 2021, landing a Listed victory on Mystery Angel, and with Karl Burke for whom he won a Listed race on Dandalla.

Read more . . .

Ben Curtis to undergo shoulder and feet operations and miss rest of year

'It was painful' – Ben Curtis rides Newcastle winner with dislocated shoulder

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