6th July 2011

BOB BUCKLER RACING: Sweeney breaks leg in bad day at office

STABLE jockey Nathan Sweeney broken his left leg following a fall at Newton Abbot on Monday.

Sweeney is in the form of his life, currently rated amongst the top strike jockeys in the country with seven wins from 21 races, burt the injury, a crack in his left tibia looks to have sidelined him for the summer months at best.

The incident happened in the Newtonabbotrace On Twitter Handicap Chase over 3¼ miles in which both Ethiopia ridden by Sweeney and Cullahill with Daryl Jacob on board were both involved.

Ethiopia was running well at the head of the 15 horse field when Sweeney was unseated after landing over the water jump, and although most horses avoided him he was kicked as the field passed.

Initially it was thought that he only had a gash to the inside of his left leg, but later x-rays at Torbay Hospital showed the crack.

Unfortunately it would appear the race was one too fat for Cullahill after his recent good run, and he never really featured, and was eventually pulled up three from home. He will now go on his summer holidays. Ethiopia returned unharmed.

The result was an obvious disappointment for the whole stable, not least because of Sweeney’s injury, but also because the yard is in such good form recently.

Buckler was philosophical afterwards, he said: “Nathan’s injury is a big blow to us all, but the only fortunate thing I guess is that it is the summer months with little racing.

“Cullahill was a race once too much, but he looked and felt well at home, but like humans they get to a point of exhaustion, and he will now be turned out for the summer.

“We’ve had a great run, but these things happen in racing I’m afraid.”

Buckler had to make jockey changes for Tuesday night’s racing at Uttoxeter with Sweeney indisposed. Ian Popham was due to ride Tiger Breeze in the conditional jockeys race, whilst Buckler found an able deputy in AP McCoy to ride Mister Matt in the bet365 Handicap Chase.

BOB BUCKLER RACING: Sweeney breaks leg in bad day at office

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