Jockey Bryan Cooper suffered a broken leg for the second time in less than year when he fell on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cooper, who is retained rider for powerful Irish owners Gigginstown House Stud, fell at the second-last flight aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained Clarcam in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

He was taken to hospital where he was expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday evening.

The highly-rated rider had been due to partner Last Instalment in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

He will be replaced in the blue riband of steeplechasing by Brian O'Connell who steered the Philip Fenton-trained nine-year-old to victory in the Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month.

"He's broken his tibia and fibula. It's the same leg he broke last year, but it's lower down this time," Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary said.

Cooper only returned to action in September after breaking his leg in May and is expected to be out for up to six months.

The 21-year-old jockey shot to prominence last season when he secured three winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

He then added two further Grade One triumphs a month later at Aintree.