'It looked worse than it was' - Scholfield hopeful of return next month

Nick Scholfield is hopeful to return to action as soon as next month following a fall at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

The jockey suffered fractured ribs and was treated at Royal Gloucestershire Hospital after the Keiran Burke-trained Last Royal fell at the final flight in the Safran Handicap Hurdle.

Scholfield said: "It looked a lot worse than it was and everyone is fine. I was 100 per cent conscious after my fall and I've just fractured a few ribs.

"Fingers crossed it shouldn't keep me out for too long and I'm hopeful that I should be able to return sometime in May."

Last Royal, who was sent off favourite for the contest and is a brother to unbeaten hurdler Honeysuckle, was reported fine after the fall by his trainer.

The injury called an early end to a stellar season for the 32-year-old jockey, who was enjoying his best tally since 2014-15 with 53 winners that included the Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle with Stag Horn.

Scholfield also concluded his campaign on a high after the fourth-placed finish of Santini in the Grand National, who rounded out the Aintree placings at 33-1 just three weeks after running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

'He's an absolute gent' - Santini's Grand National fourth delights Polly Gundry

"I've had over 50 winners and I'm very much looking forward to going into the next season," Scholfield added. "The end of the season came a week earlier but it ended on a high after Santini.

"Credit to Polly Gundry and Mr and Mrs Kelvin-Hughes, they did a fantastic job to run a race like that. Half of me thinks if it had been the older version of the Grand National it would have just suited him that little bit better, but he still ran his heart out and I think everyone was very happy with his performance.

"I've had some decent winners along the way this season but that was one of the highlights. I do enjoy the Grand National."

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