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Yorkshire’s Rosie Howarth, who is leading the Highflyer Bloodstock national novice women’s title race, seems set to miss the rest of the season.

Howarth (pictured above) suffered a fall on Merrion Avenue at Sedgefield two weeks ago, and is still waiting for an operation to have the injury pinned. She has ridden nine point-to-point winners this season, one more than Olive Nicholls and two ahead of Ellie Callwood. Both challengers are expected to be in action this weekend.

Speaking from her home, Howarth said: “I didn’t have private health insurance so am still waiting for an operation on the collarbone. I’m going in on May 11, but it’s proving very frustrating – if I had it pinned straight away I would have got back sooner.

“I’m still going to try to return this season, although I’m being told that’s not going to be possible.

“I’ve had an amazing season and learned a lot on many different horses and maidens. It’s been good experience. No one’s going to take that away from me, but I’m cross that the injury happened on my old schoolmaster, a horse who knows how to jump. They’re not robots.

“It’s a nice consolation to know I’ve won the Yorkshire senior and novice women’s title, but I was runner-up to Natalya Irvine for the national novice last year and I was so keen to win it this time.

“I’m hoping to ride on the Flat this summer and it would be nice to ride a first winner [on the Flat], but pointing is my first love. I just can’t wait to get back.”