Female jumps rider Lizzie Kelly has suffered an injury setback just as the start of the national hunt season gets underway after breaking her arm in a heavy fall at Exeter in the week.
She is hoping to be back on the track in November for the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham where she is set to ride ante post favourite Siruh Du Lac.
The young rider became the first female jockey to land a Grade 1 over jumps in Britain on Tea For Two in the 2015 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton.
She is now a very established rider on the jumps scene and this setback, which has seen her break her right arm and injured her left shoulder when falling on Rococo River in the 3m beginners' chase at Exeter on Thursday, is not what she had planned for the start of her season.
(Credit Racing Post) She said: "I've got a broken right fore-arm and I think my left collarbone has come away from the AC [acromioclavicular] joint.
"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."
The two time Cheltenham festival winner is facing a tough task to be fully recovered and race fit for November 16th but she is hoping she can be with Siruh Du Lac who was last seen winning at Prestbury park in the Brown Advisory Plate.
She added: "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."