'Things had been going well' - in-form Burke sidelined with broken collarbone

Jump jockey Johnny Burke, already within touching distance of last season's tally of 38 winners, will have to postpone chasing down that target for a few weeks after breaking his collarbone in a schooling fall in Lambourn on Thursday morning.

Burke, whose father Liam trains in Ireland, moved to Britain in 2017 after a spell riding for the Potts family and has ridden 31 winners this term, forging fruitful links with Oliver Sherwood and Tom Lacey to go alongside his productive partnership with Tom George.

The 24-year-old, who will make the most of the facilities at Oaksey House, the rehabilitation centre for jockeys in Lambourn, said: "I suppose we could be looking at four weeks on the sidelines, but I'll get into Oaksey House next week and I'll be guided from there. I might try to look at Christmas, although it could be the new year.

"Things had been going well and I was in a great position with Tom George, Oliver and Tom Lacey. I was very fortunate and going great with 31 winners and riding for other trainers too.

"My agent Chris Broad and Gordon Clarkson, who has been working with him, have done a great job. I couldn't be happier with the way things had been going."

Burke wins on Unohu at Ayr last monthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Burke, who rode 45 winners in the 2018-19 campaign, won a Grade 1 novice hurdle on subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John in 2014 and can also count the following year's Galway Plate, which he landed on Shanahan's Turn, among his biggest victories.

"It's only a bone and it will heal and hopefully I can be back soon and hit the ground running again," the Stow-on-the-Wold-based rider added.

"I've won on plenty of horses in the last two months who I can look forward to. For now I'll just concentrate on getting back fit and well.

"Oaksey were brilliant – on the phone immediately getting me booked in – and I'm in the best hands to get back as quickly as possible."

Johnny Burke career details

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