Racing Newsbrian Harding's topsy-turvy season has come to a premature end after X-rays revealed he has broken a collarbone. The Corkman, who only returned to the saddle in December following a year off with serious head injuries, fractured his left collarbone for the second time this term in a heavy fall at Hexham on Saturday.

His mount, Fraught Son, appeared to be cruising to victory in a novice chase when he crashed out at the second-last fence.

Harding confirmed yesterday: "It's a hairline fracture on the collarbone in the exact same spot that was broken in February. Hugh Barber said I could be back in about two weeks, but he's advised me to take time and let it heal properly.

"They tell me it's never as bad as the first time and it's certainly not as painful. It's maybe because I had a piece of broken bone floating around the first time it happened.

"It's a shame Fraught Son fell because he was cantering and we would have trotted up. But luckily he's OK.

"I'll have it in a sling for a few days then I'll try to get down to doing things. Things were getting quieter for me anyway and it just means my season has ended a couple of weeks or so earlier than I intended.

"I'm planning to visit my family in Ireland and then take a holiday with my wife. After that I expect to be back for some of the early summer jumping."

Richard Dunwoody may be forced to delay his return to action. The former champion jockey, who gave up two winning mounts at Stratford on Friday night after the recurrence of an old shoulder injury, will make a late decision on whether to ride today. "It happened at Fontwell last Monday and it was still very painful last night," Dunwoody said.

"I am down to ride at Killarney but I will have to see how I am. If I don't ride there I might have to go for X-rays."

Dunwoody rode two winners at Stratford before giving up his remaining mounts, taking his seasonal total in Britain to 103.

Charles O'Brien's Geisha Girl was a two lengths fifth to Santenay in a major German Oaks trial, the Diana Trial-Las Vegas-Slenderella Rennem, at Mulheim on Saturday.