Hornby sidelined with shoulder injury suffered in Wolverhampton horror fall

Rob Hornby expects to remain on the sidelines until the new year at the earliest after sustaining a shoulder injury in a nasty fall at Wolverhampton last week.

The jockey initially thought he had escaped lightly when his mount, Villanelle, clipped heels and went down in the closing stages of a 1m4f handicap, an incident which in turn brought down the Ben Curtis-ridden Fortultous.

Curtis was briefly unconscious after the incident but Hornby walked away from the scene, although problems with his shoulder have subsequently come to light.

On Monday, Hornby went to a shoulder specialist hospital in Cardiff for a CT scan on the injury and is waiting on the results.

He said: "I was a bit sore after the fall but thought I was okay overall, but the physios have since flagged up an issue with my shoulder.

"They say it could be what is known as a subluxation and I'm not able to ride at the moment. I'll know more in a few days' time. I doubt I'll be back until after new year, which is frustrating."

Hornby was involved in the fall which also left Ben Curtis sidelinedCredit: Attheraces

Unlike a full dislocation, a shoulder subluxation is an incomplete or partial dislocation where the ball and socket are not fully separated. The two structures of the joint are still in contact, but one has shifted out of alignment and usually involves damage to supporting structures, such as the muscles or tendons.

Hornby, who has had a career-best year with 79 winners, comfortably beating his 2018 tally of 59, added: "It's a shame as I had some nice horses to ride in the coming weeks for Andrew Balding and also Martyn Meade, including Gloucestershire, who won at Kempton on Monday."

Curtis has also not ridden since the spill and is expected to be out until January 1 at the earliest, meaning his final tally for 2020 is a career-best 170 winners.

His agent Simon Dodds said: "Ben got a mandatory two weeks from the doctor as he was briefly unconscious after his fall at Wolverhampton and that takes us up to December 22 when there is no racing.

"He hadn't planned to ride on Boxing Day this year anyway, so he is able to enjoy a Christmas break at home with his family and be raring to go in the new year."

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