Craig du Plooy, who broke bones in his right hand when Sabina’s Dynasty fell with him as he was pulling her up at Kenilworth a fortnight ago, expects to be out of action until some time in January.

He said: “I had bad concussion and, perhaps fortunately, I don’t remember anything about it but I am told that the horse landed on top of me. I had a lot of facial bruising, including two black eyes, and the hand was broken quite badly. The doctors had to pin it and they told me that I will be out for eight weeks minimum – and that is if all goes well in the meantime.”

The injury is a blow, not just to Du Plooy, but also to Snaith Racing as he rides much of the work on the team’s big string. However he should be able to continue with his tuition of those taking part in Cape Town work riders’ races.

He explained: “I teach them basic racing rules and they all have to pass my course to be eligible to ride in those races.”

He works with them quite closely and appears on Tellytrack before each Kenilworth work rider race to inform both the presenter and punters of their various strengths and weaknesses.

By Michael Clower