Four time champion jockey Richard Johnson has suffered a nasty broken arm after falling on Tuesday at Exeter on board the the Philip Hobbs trained Westend Story but he is in high spirits about being back before the Cheltenham festival in March.
The highly decorated rider suffered in the fall at the sixth fence in the Dare To Dream Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and with the story ever evolving trainer Philip Hobbs has explained that Johnson will be operated on after it was confirmed he had broken his arm.
(Credit At The Races) After the heavy fall the champion jockey was taken to Exeter Hospital with Johnson telling his retained trainer Hobbs: “He has broken his right arm in between the elbow and the hand.
“He is going to have an operation on it, to have it plated, either tomorrow or Thursday.
“He expects to be off for a month or so. He sounded very positive about Cheltenham.”
Although Johnson is positive of making a speedy recovery in time for March 10th the information on the Professional Jockeys’ Association website explains that it could take up to nine weeks for him to recover which would see him miss the four day meeting at jumps racing HQ.
Top high street bookmakers immediately suspended betting on the title race with Brian Hughes after news of his injury with Hughes already leading after a few nice winners over the last few days.