Irish Grand National winner Slevin set for spell on sidelines after Galway fall

The Galway festival proved a week to forget for Irish Grand National-winning rider JJ Slevin, who will be out of action until next month after injuring his shoulder and ankle in a fall last weekend.

Slevin was partnering his cousin Joseph O'Brien's 33-1 shot Cook Islands in a €100,000 handicap hurdle when falling at the third-last, bringing down Uradel and hampering Gran Geste – both of whom appeared to make contact with him while he was on the ground.

It capped off a meeting to forget for the man who steered Champagne Classic to success at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, having been brought down on his previous ride in the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase on Vieux Morvan when seemingly going well.

Slevin, who earlier in the week was also given no chance when he was unseated at the first from Chateau Conti having stumbled on landing, said: "It was the Cook Islands fall that got me. I did my collarbone and ankle, which are giving me a bit of trouble, but it could be worse."

The rider, who has ten winners to his name this season, added: "I was told that it would be five to six weeks before I'm back. The collarbone in particular got a good slap and it came away with a few cracks and breaks."

Jonathan Burke visited the winner's enclosure at the Aintree Grand National festival aboard Charlie Longsdon's BentelimarCredit: Grossick Racing

Burke eager as return from arm injury nears

Jonathan Burke is another Grade 1-winning rider on the sidelines. The Cork native has been out of action since suffering a fractured humerus at Limerick in mid-July.

Burke, now plying his trade on the other side of the Irish Sea with Charlie Longsdon, sustained the injury when his mount Sheldon Cooper fell at the last when well beaten in a 2m2f handicap hurdle, with the gelding appearing to roll on Burke.

The 22-year-old said: "I was sore enough at the time but thought I was all right so decided to ride the next day at Sligo, but after that I realised it was something I needed to have examined.

"It transpired I had a small fracture towards the head of my humerus, which was a relatively small job and just required me to have my arm in a sling for a couple of weeks.

"I'm out of all that now and just need to crack on with the physio and I aim to get back in two weeks' time, though I'll be guided by Oaksey House, which is a great facility that makes life easier."

He added: "I'm sure they'll have me back fitter and stronger than ever and I'm very keen to get into the thick of things again. It probably isn't the worst time of year to miss and Charlie's horses will be ready to rock early, which should make for an exciting time."

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