Jockey Jack Mitchell on the sidelines following shoulder surgery

Jack Mitchell will be out of action for up to five weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The jockey, 30, had been struggling with a right shoulder issue and elected to go under the knife in a bid to be 100 per cent fit for the forthcoming turf Flat season.

Mitchell will be looking to build off the back of a fine 2018, in which he rode 66 winners, including a Listed success at Haydock on Classical Times for Peter Chapple-Hyam in May.

That figure represented a career best by some distance, and Mitchell has four winners to his name since the beginning of January.

Spencer fourth at Gulfstream

Jamie Spencer finished fourth on Bantu for trainer Brendan Walsh at Gulfstream Park on Sunday on his first ride in a stint in Florida.

Spencer, twice champion jockey in Britain and once in Ireland, is due to ride for Wesley Ward at the same track on Thursday, and has rides lined up at Fair Grounds in Louisiana on Friday and Saturday.

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