Ryedale jockey Robert Winston is taking a break from the saddle.

He has been plagued by injury problems since taking a heavy fall at Haydock last year when he broke his jaw and injured his knee.

Winston's agent Richard Hale confirmed that he is to miss the next few weeks' action as he tries to regain full fitness and sort out some personal problems.

"He's going to have a couple of weeks off to get himself sorted out," said Hale.

"He's had an ongoing back problem for a while, which can make his legs feel a bit funny and gives him a lot of pain.

"That's been bothering him and he's got personal problems as well, so he just wants some time off to sort himself out.

"I think he'll just see how things go for now. He's not got a date to come back but I wouldn't think it would be too long," he added.

Updated: 11:43 Saturday, May 17, 2003