Ana O’Brien in horror fall

JOCKEY Ana O’Brien was taken to hospital by air ambulance after a shocking fall at Killarney last night.

O’Brien, the daughter of trainer Aidan O’Brien, was quickly attended to after her mount Druids Cross, trained by her brother, Joseph, slipped up over two furlongs out in the second race, which was run at 6.20pm.

The three-year-old Druids Cross was fatally injured, while O’Brien was taken off the track in an ambulance before being transferred to Cork University Hospital. The Coast Guard air ambulance arrived at 7.45pm and landed on the golf course.

Clerk of the course Val O’Connell reported O’Brien to be conscious when taken to hospital. He said: ‘She was conscious leaving the track and was airlifted to Cork University Hospital.’

It is believed O’Brien also suffered facial and arm injuries.

The third race was delayed for well over an hour as a result.

O’Brien, 21, rode in both the English and Irish Derbys for her father this season and partnered her first winner as a 16-year-old at Dundalk in February, 2013.

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh was scheduled to ride in the later races, and told At The

Races after supervising the win of the Willie Mullins-trained Grainne’s Dream in the delayed 6.50: ‘I think the news was a bit better when she was leaving, so hopefully that is right.

‘She’ll be well looked after, fingers crossed for her.’