REIGNING champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle is likely to miss the opening weeks of the new Irish flat season due to a back injury incurred from a fall during his successful spell in Hong Kong.

The 23-year-old was originally due to have some big chances on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan today, and had come in for two spare rides on the card following Ryan Moore’s move to ride Albert Einstein at the Curragh this afternoon. However, Declan McDonogh has now been called into action for Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa as favourite in the Dubai Gold Cup, and Danny Tudhope gets the plum ride on Ethical Diamond in the Sheema Classic.

Browne McMonagle’s agent Kevin O’Ryan told The Irish Field: “Dylan has hurt his back from a fall while riding in Hong Kong. He’ll be back in a few weeks’ time.”

Joseph O’Brien’s stable jockey was noted to have had a spill in the closing stages of a race at Happy Valley on March 18th. He managed to take three more rides later that day, and a further 13 mounts across the next two meetings, including an excellent fourth in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby.

The Breeders’ Cup-winning rider emerged with a highly respectable 10 winners from his recent stint in the ultra-competitive Asian jurisdiction.