RACING/News: The attrition rate amongst the country's top jump jockeys increased even further yesterday after Norman Williamson was stood down from race riding until next week.
He joins Ruby Walsh who is out of action for up to eight weeks with a fractured hip that he sustained on Monday.
Williamson collapsed with heat exhaustion on Tuesday but it was the effects of a fall earlier in the afternoon that ruled him out yesterday and he will not be able to return until Monday at the earliest.
"He has severe bruising on his lower back that is restricting his movement. He also has bruising over his left kidney. I have stood him down until Monday," said the Turf Club medical officer, Dr Walter Halley.
After Williamson collapsed in the jockeys room, there was a delay before he received attention. Halley admitted: "I would have been happier if it had been quicker, but the two doctors on duty were tied up with other things."
Walsh's view of Listowel must be extremely mixed now with another prolonged period on the sidelines ahead of him.
Two seasons ago, he injured his left hip at the track and now his right hip has been confirmed as fractured. On Monday he was taken to Tralee hospital for X-rays but he was still very sore on Tuesday and further X-rays in Dublin confirmed the fracture.
The current champion rider Paul Carberry remains on the sidelines himself but he rode out yesterday and hopes to return at the weekend.
Today's Listowel feature is the €50,000 Smithwicks Handicap Hurdle where the Galway Hurdle winner Sabadilla returns on a 10lb higher rating. The former John Gosden- trained horse thrived on the soft going at Ballybrit and King's Opera was well back in 10th.
Barry Geraghty's mount should be happier on better going here, however, and could be worth a bet in a very competitive race.
Last year the mile maiden unveiled the talents of Alamshar and this time it is Dermot Weld who could supply a decent newcomer in the Polish Precedent colt Media Asset. Statim's overall form levels would make her hard to oppose in the four-year-old hurdle but her temperament has frequently been questioned and opposing her could pay off again. Jim Culloty broke his Listowl duck earlier in the week and he could score again here on the Galway third Rackard.
