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YOUNG jockey Ana O'Brien sustained serious injuries after a fall at Killarney yesterday evening, but doctors believe she will make a full recovery in “three to four months”.

Ana was quickly attended to after her mount Druids Cross slipped up after two furlongs in the second race on the card, which was run at 6.20pm. The injured jockey was taken by the Irish Coastguard air ambulance to Cork University Hospital. Over 12 members of Killarney’s Order of Malta were at the scene and they along with the racecourse doctors, veterinary team, Val O’Connell, clerk of the course, racecourse team and air medical crew and staff at CUH came in for praise from Ana’s family.

The 21-year-old suffered a fractured C1 vertebra in her neck and T6 in her back. Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick was one of the doctors who attended O'Brien, along with Killarney Order of Malta, and the HSE ambulance team. Dr McGoldrick told Press Association Sport: "Ana's brain scan is clear. She has a fractured C1 vertebra in her neck and T6 in her back. Both will have an MRI scan tomorrow to assess further. She has fractured cheekbones bilaterally."

Ana is the daughter of renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien and rode her first winner on board her father's Fairylike at Dundalk in February 2013.

Her family thanked the team who attended the injured jockey. Dr McGoldrick added: "Aidan and AnneMarie (O'Brien) would like to thank the superb work provided to Ana by the Order Of Malta, racecourse doctors, veterinary team and ground staff led by Val O'Connell (clerk of the course). Also the air medical crew and the amazing staff at CUH."

The three-year-old Druids Cross, trained by Ana’s brother Joseph O’Brien, was fatally injured in the incident.
 

 
Above: Jockey Ana O'Brien. PICTURE: DON MACMONAGLE