Injury rules Barry Geraghty out of the Irish and English Grand Nationals

A fall at Downpatrick yesterday has left the Meath man with a fractured tibia

Last Easter Monday we were lucky enough to be in Fairyhouse when Barry Geraghty ended his hoodoo and won his first Irish Grand National aboard Shutthefrontdoor. The reception the local man received in the winner's enclosure was fantastic and we had hoped we would see a repeat in few weeks time. Sadly, Geraghty will be in plaster for both the Irish and English showpieces after a fall off of Sailors Warn in a race at Downpatrick yesterday. Geraghty was taken to hospital in Blanchardstown in Dublin where it was confirmed that he had a hairline fracture in his left tibia and he would face four to eight weeks out of the saddle. It is rotten timing for the jockey, as he misses out on trying to go back to back in the Irish National while he had two top class potential rides in the Aintree version, Nicky Henderson's Hadrian's Approach or the well fancied The Druids Nephew. The jockey himself is optimistic about his return, targeting the 2015 Punchestown Festival, which starts on April 28.

I'm going to miss some great racing over the next few weeks after fracturing my left tibia hopefully I can get back for @punchestownrace — BarryJGeraghty (@BarryJGeraghty) March 23, 2015

Get well soon Barry.