RICHARD DUNWOODY yesterday challenged race-course medical procedures on British racecourses as he recovers from an injury that threatens his participation in the Cheltenham Festival.

The former champion jockey was upset at the time it took for him to receive professional medical attention after a crunching fall at Kempton Park on Saturday.

Dunwoody, 33, is in the intensive care unit at the Ashford Hospital after sustaining a hairline fracture of the sternum, and is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be sidelined for a maximum of 10 days, which will allow him to ride at the Festival.

Meanwhile, he took the opportunity, from his hospital bed, to express his displeasure at an apparent delay in medical attention after the fall. He will meet the Jockeys' Association secretary Michael Caulfield and the Jockey Club's medical adviser Dr Michael Turner to discuss the problem.

Dunwoody was upset that the first people on the scene after See More Business crashed in the Racing Post Chase did not seem to know the correct course of action. He ordered them to go away while he awaited other medical attendants to reach him.

Another Irish-born jockey hoping to be back for Cheltenham is Brian Harding, still awaiting medical clearance to allow him to make his Gold Cup debut. The 24-year-old rider will step aboard Addington Boy at the festival provided he gets the thumbs up from Dr Turner.

Harding has been unable to ride since suffering concussion in a fall from Show Your Hand at Newcastle on December 16th last year.