Jack Kennedy was sent to the hospital after a nasty fall that saw his mount Top Bandit lose his life at Naas Racecourse on Sunday.
Kennedy's mount made a terrible mistake at the fourth fence of the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.
It sent 23-year-old Kennedy flying out of the saddle and he was later taken away by an ambulance for further treatment.
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Dr Jennifer Pugh of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board said: “Jack Kennedy is being transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment on a leg injury.”
Kennedy will miss the ride on Gordon Elliott's Irish Point in the feature race of the day, Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novices Hurdle.
The jockey has suffered many injuries in recent seasons, including a broken collarbone this summer.
Seven-year-old gelding Top Bandit had to be put down after his crashing fall in Sunday's race.
The severity of Kennedy’s injury is yet to be confirmed, but trainer Elliott told Racing TV: “It didn’t look good. I went down to the fence when he got the fall and he looked pretty sore.
“He has a bit of a bump on his lower left leg. He’s gone for X-rays and we’ll hear later on, but I didn’t like what I saw.
“We’re not going to have (him) for the foreseeable future from what I’ve seen, not unless there’s a miracle.”
The injury looks set to be a major blow to Kennedy’s hopes of being crowned champion jockey for the first time. He currently holds an 18-winner lead over reigning champion Paul Townend.
It also threatens his participation at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
“We’ll see how he is and see what the doctors say. Obviously we’ve eight weeks to Cheltenham and it’s not ideal,” said Elliott.
“He got a terrible fall there – he just hasn’t been getting the rub of the green.
“It looked like he was in pole position to be champion jockey. If it’s not going to happen this year, hopefully it will happen sometime for him.”
Asked whether Kennedy’s expected absence gives some of his other riders an opportunity, Elliott added: “It looks like it, they are going to have to take it with both hands. It’s their chance now to step up.
“I’ve got Jordan (Gainford), I’ve got Sam (Ewing), Denis O’Regan is in a few days a week and a couple of other jockeys as well, so they’re all going to get their chances.”
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