Paul Carberry faces a battle against the clock after a heavy fall at Navan yesterday left him with a suspected broken collarbone. The Co Meath rider was taken to hospital for x-rays.

If Carberry has indeed broken a collarbone he will be rushing to make it back in time for Cheltenham, where his choice book of rides includes Dorans Pride in the Gold Cup, Cardinal Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Cockney Lad in the Arkle Trophy.

Carberry took the heavy fall from Wyatt at the eighth fence in the Bank Of Ireland Chase, and Noel Meade said: "It looks like he has broken his collarbone and they think it could be a bad break."

Carberry currently trails Ruby Walsh by five winners in the battle for the jockeys' championship.

His Cheltenham festival record includes victories on Rhythm Section in the Festival Bumper and Unguided Missile in a handicap chase last year.

Theatreworld, runner-up in the last two runnings of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, failed in his bid to record his third successive victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle when only third behind Nomadic at Gowran on Saturday.

Charlie Swan reckoned the race was not run to suit his mount. "He is far better in a race like the Champion Hurdle when there is always a strong gallop. "He just didn't quicken for me in the straight to get in a blow at them," he said.