Flanagan makes a quick return to action a month after breaking his jaw

JP McManus runner Castle Oliver bids for four in a row in Naas feature

Sean Flanagan: returns to action at Naas just a month after breaking his jaw in a fall at the venue. Photograph: Billy Keane/Inpho
Sean Flanagan: returns to action at Naas just a month after breaking his jaw in a fall at the venue. Photograph: Billy Keane/Inpho

A month after breaking his jaw in a fall at Naas, jockey Sean Flanagan returns to action at the track on Sunday.

Flanagan fractured his jaw when Village Mystic crashed out in a hurdle race but has recovered in time for next week’s Cheltenham festival.

First of all though he teams up with Beacon Edge in a Listed hurdle on Sunday. It looks a contest well within the horse’s grasp given how only a final flight mistake looked to prevent him winning a Grade Three contest last time.

Flanagan had ridden a winner at the same fixture prior to his fall but David Mullins has yet to visit the winners' enclosure since his return to action following a serious spinal fracture in October. He has two rides at Gowran's fixture on Saturday although his best chance could come on Court Maid who sports first-time cheek-pieces in a handicap hurdle at Naas.

READ SOME MORE

If it is very much a case of calm before the Cheltenham storm, Sunday's fixture can still boast a Grade Three novice chase and the €100,000 Mansion Bet Leinster National.

Michael O’Leary and JP McManus each have five runners in the three mile contest where the latter’s Castle Oliver will try to win four in a row.

He is over two stone higher in the ratings compared to when his streak began but trainer Pádraig Roche believes a step up in trip will suit.

“It’s another big step forward for him but I’d be hopeful the extra half mile will bring about a bit more improvement again judging by the way he finished out his race the last day,” he said.

TG4 will broadcast a Cheltenham festival preview on Saturday night at 7.45 hosted by Denis Kirwan. It will be repeated the night before the festival starts on Monday at 7.30.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column