Flanagan hopeful of Christmas return Sean Flanagan is hoping to be back in action for the busy Christmas period after fracturing a vertebrae in a schooling fall last week. The Wexford native has built up a good association with Noel Meade in recent seasons enjoying Grade 1 success with the likes of Disko and Road To Respect, and also with Jeff Kidder at the Punchestown Festival this spring. Meade confirmed the injury saying, “He’s fractured a vertebrae and he thinks it will be six weeks before he can get back. He’s sore. “It happened schooling, a horse turned over with him on Wednesday morning - the last fence he was jumping.” Flanagan partnered his 19th winner of the season the previous day aboard My Newbrook Rose at Fairyhouse. He joins other top Irish National Hunt jockeys like Paul Townend and Jack Kennedy on the sidelines.
