Townend hopeful to make Galway

Champion jump jockey Paul Townend hopes to be back in action for the Galway Festival later this month following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a broken collarbone.

Townend partnered 80 winners last season to beat Davy Russell by five, although his present injury woes date back to the end of March.

The 20-year-old originally fractured his collarbone after a fall from Indian Buck at Navan on March 26 but returned to the saddle the week before the Punchestown Festival to crucially ride another four winners.

However another fall on the opening day of Punchestown (May 3) from Mr Thriller in the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase refracturing the collarbone. A pin inserted after the previous fracture was badly bent and required Townend to have surgery.

“I am due to go back to Tadgh O'Sullivan (orthopedic surgeon) in about ten days, and hopefully I will get the go ahead then but it all depends on what he says. I want to make sure that I come back right this time,” said Townend this afternoon.

He added: “It broke bad the last time, and I'm just making sure that its right for the winter ahead. I've not been riding out at all but have been doing plenty of walking to try and keep fit. Hopefully when the injury is alright I should be back fairly quick.”

“I went away to Cyprus for a week and the bit of sun did it good. It would be nice to be back for Galway but we'll have to see what the specialist says. He (O'Sullivan) was happy with it when I was down to see him about three weeks ago. Its coming around but its just taking time.”

Alan Magee