Jockey Davy Russell suffers broken elbow in Gowran fall

Jockey Davy Russell is expected to be back in action in time for the Punchestown festival at the end of April after breaking an elbow in a bad fall at Gowran Park.

There were initial fears that the two-time Irish champion jockey had also broken a leg after the fall from front-runner Feenakilmeedy in the Brian Cody & www.aclsurgery.ie Mares Beginners Chase.

Russell was attended to at the track before being taken to St Luke’s Accident and Emergency in Kilkenny for treatment.

Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick told the Racing Post: “Davy has fractured his ulna [elbow]and will have surgery on Monday. He will be out of action for four to six weeks, but should be back in time for the Punchestown festival at the end of next month.”

Russell later tweeted: “Thanks for all the kind messages not as bad as first feared”.

Shuilamach was also brought down in the incident while Shaunas Dream was another to come to grief at the same obstacle.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: "Basically it was Davy who brought down the other horse (Shuilamach) and he took the full brunt of a horse travelling at over 30 miles an hour.

Russell had confirmed earlier in the day that he had lost the ride on 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere following his lacklustre defence of his Festival crown.

The dual Irish champion partnered the Jim Culloty-trained runner to a famous success in the Cheltenham feature last term, but he was eventually pulled up with two fences still to jump in last week’s renewal.

The nine-year-old was in the rear throughout and tailed off when Russell eventually called time, with the rider reporting Culloty to be unhappy with his efforts in the saddle.

Russell said: “It’s very disappointing to lose the ride on Lord Windermere. I’ll never forget last year’s Gold Cup win on the horse which was one of the highlights of my career.

“After the Gold Cup Jim told me he didn’t want me riding his horses.

“He wasn’t happy with the ride I gave the horse (Lord Windermere) and he said he wanted a change.”