Lizzie Kelly targets BetVictor Gold Cup return after breaking arm in fall

Lizzie Kelly hopes to be back in time to ride ante-post favourite Siruh Du Lac in next month's BetVictor Gold Cup after suffering an early season injury setback at Exeter.

Kelly, the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 over jumps in Britain on Tea For Two in the 2015 Kauto Star Novices' Chase, broke her right arm and injured her left shoulder in a heavy fall from Rococo River in the 3m beginners' chase on Thursday.

"I've got a broken right fore-arm and I think my left collarbone has come away from the AC [acromioclavicular] joint," Kelly said on Saturday morning.

"I went to hospital in Exeter but was home that night and they will operate on my arm as soon as possible. Hopefully, it will be fairly straightforward and I'll be back in four weeks."

Siruh Du Lac: last season's Plate winner is favourite for the BetVictor Gold CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Kelly faces a race against time to return for the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 16 when she is set to ride Siruh Du Lac, who won the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival on his last start.

"I'll be working hard at Oaksey House to get back quickly as I've got some big rides this season, starting with Siruh Du Lac," she said. "It's frustrating as I was beginning to rock and roll, but I've been very lucky as this is my first real injury in ten years of riding."

Rococo River, trained and owned by Kelly's mother Jane Williams, was unscathed after falling for the second time in his six starts.

"He went to chip in a bit short and couldn't get his undercarriage out," she said. "It's the second time he's put me in an ambulance as he fell on his debut over hurdles at Hereford – but he's a lovely horse."

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