GET MENDED SOON BURTY AND PRITCH!

23-05-2007

Richard Burton and Julian Pritchard are nursing broken bones after point-to-point falls.

Richard, reigning point-to-point champion and successful at Cheltenham and Aintree this year, has a broken ankle and will be in plaster for five or six weeks.

He was long odds-on to retain his national point-to-point title, having built a lead of 11 over James Tudor, but the gap was cut to seven at the weekend.James has seven more racing days in which to overhaul Burty.

Julian, Britain’s most successful point-to-point rider with 384 winners and awarded the AJA President’s Prize for 2005, broke the top of his femur while riding at Bredwardine on Saturday. His injury was plated and screwed on Sunday and he expects to be released from Hereford hospital this week.

The AJA send both of them get well wishes for a speedy recovery. We all eagerly await the return to the saddle of other top amateur riders injured this season, including David England who was leading the NH men’s table at the time that he broke his leg and has still managed to retain runner up slot – a magnificent achievement in itself – Jamie Snowden (broken ankle), Serena Brotherton (broken pelvis) and Harry Fowler (punctured lung). Hurry back everyone!