Racing News round-up: Paul Carberry hopes to return to the saddle in two to three weeks after fracturing a bone in his neck at Leopardstown last week.
Carberry sustained the injury after parting company with Church Island in the Ascon/Rohcon Novice Chase on December 28th.
Although Carberry was able to ride at Leopardstown the next day, a visit to a specialist on Tuesday confirmed he would be out of action for at least a fortnight. "Things aren't too bad with it so I should be back in two or three weeks," said Carberry.
The injury has denied Carberry the chance of partnering outstanding novice Iktitaf in the Anglo Irish Bank Corporate Treasury Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown tomorrow. Noel Meade's charge, who won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month, will now be ridden by Tony McCoy.
Paul Nicholls will be without the services of Ruby Walsh at the same venue. The 26-year-old was stood down for the remainder of the New Year's Day card at Cheltenham after a nasty-looking fall from Sporazene, his second heavy tumble of the day after an earlier spill on Le Duc.
Walsh was hoping to return to action by the weekend, but is now likely to be replaced by Christian Williams.
Rathgar Beau has been ruled out for the rest of the season after injuring a tendon at Cork last month.
"As such injuries go it isn't very serious, but he is too good a horse to take any chances with and with plenty of rest we should have him back next season," said his trainer Eamon Sheehy.
Another Cheltenham prospect, Forty Licks, had to put down on Wednesday after breaking a leg on the gallops. The lightly-raced nine-year-old, trained by Edward O'Grady, was doing a routine canter ahead of his next outing at Naas on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Leodotcom, who was gifted a race at Thurles in November with the independent departures of disputing leaders two out, was in luck again yesterday at the same venue in the opening handicap chase.
Revue, 15 lengths clear and an assured winner, dived at the last under Andrew McNamara and crumpled to the ground, leaving Hasanpour in front.
Leodotcom, left second, got the better of a tired Hasanpour on the run-in under Barry Geraghty to credit Limerick-trainer Noreen Hayes with a most fortuitous victory.
Davy Russell, in third place in the jockeys' standings, rode winner number 51 of the campaign on Highglen for Pat Fahy in the novice hurdle.
On his second start for Seán O'Brien, Strong Project gained the biggest win of his long career in the featured Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase.
Making all, as he has done in the past under Johnny Allen, he already had the measure of favourite Doctor Linton when a better jump at the final fence sealed the issue. "He will go next for the Kinloch Brae Chase here in a fortnight's time," said O'Brien.
Allen went on to complete a double on Cogans Lake for Kieran Purcell.
