O'Connell set for spell on sidelines Brian O'Connell is set for a spell on the sidelines following an operation to repair shoulder damage. The jockey who has ridden over 200 winners, including six Grade Ones, suffered the injuries as the result of a fall at Tramore on October 5th. He resumed race riding just a week later but was forced to undergo surgery after the results of an MRI scan revealed the damage. “I'm going to be out for a couple of months,” said O'Connell. “I took a fall in Tramore two weeks ago and I was off for a week. I came back and rode for three or four days while I was waiting on the results of a MRI scan. “The results showed that I had torn ligaments and tendons in my shoulder. “I met with a specialist on Tuesday and he operated on me on Wednesday morning. “I'll be on the sidelines for a couple of months anyway and it's too early to think of a date for coming back. “There is never a good time of year to get injured but this is always an exciting time getting into the real national hunt season. “It's a pity but that's the joys of the game.”
