Cheltenham Foxhunters heroine has successful shoulder operation

Harriet Tucker, who will long be remembered for winning the Foxhunter at the Cheltenham Festival with her shoulder dislocated, has finally had an operation to save her riding career.

Tucker, 22, had a recurring problem with her shoulder popping out, which hindered her at the second-last as she jumped Pacha Du Polder into contention at Cheltenham three months ago.

Unable to use her whip and cajoling 25-1 chance Pacha Du Polder up the run-in, they won by a neck from Top Wood in a thrilling finish to complete back-to-back wins in the race for the Andy Stewart-owned chaser.

Relive Pacha Du Polder's wins at Cheltenham

On Monday afternoon her father Martin reported: "It has been a tough time for Harriet – she was told not to ride after what happened at Cheltenham.

"She has had a difficult operation on her shoulder, having to have a bone graft to bolt on to her shoulder, but I have spoken to her and the surgeon is pleased with how well it went."

Tucker was recovering in the Circle Bath hospital and under orders not to do anything for four weeks.

Her father added: "It has been a difficult few months as the first surgeon she consulted in Cardiff thought she would never ride again, such was the damage to her shoulder – he said it was only her strong tendons keeping the shoulder in place.

"We paid for a second opinion, which was much more upbeat, and the surgeon was confident Harriet would be able to ride again."

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