Fall leaves Thomas in hospital and out of Cheltenham

SAM Thomas has been ruled out of next week's Cheltenham Festival after suffering a cracked vertebra in a fall on the gallops at champion trainer Paul Nicholls's yard yesterday morning.

The Gold Cup-winning jockey sustained back and neck injuries and was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath following a schooling accident after falling from Woolcombe Folly, a leading Arkle Trophy contender. Thomas was riding upsides Tony McCoy, the champion jockey, when he fell heavily at the last fence in a line of six.

Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas is stable jockey, said last night that the rider's injuries were not as serious as first feared, but did confirm that he will not be riding at the Festival.

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"I haven't spoken to Sam directly, but I've spoken to his father who is with him and he will not be riding at Cheltenham," said George. "He has suffered a crack to a vertebra high up in his neck, but it is not as bad as first feared and he is able to walk, talk and move his hands and feet.

"It's disappointing that he will miss Cheltenham, but the news is largely positive and his injuries will heal with time."

The injury is a huge blow to Thomas, whose finest hour to date came when he rode Denman to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 2008.

His rides at the Festival this year were due to include the Nicholls-trained Tricky Trickster in the Gold Cup and George's Tell Massini, ante-post favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

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Ironically, Thomas only rides out for Nicholls infrequently after falling out of favour with the champion trainer following a number of high-profile falls. He was wrongly blamed for defeats suffered by the likes of Denman, Kauto Star and Big Buck's.

Brian O'Connell, meanwhile, believes Dunguib's previous course experience will stand him in good stead for Tuesday's Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Philip Fenton's exciting prospect won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Festival last year and is odds-on to take the opening race of the meeting on Tuesday after an unblemished record over hurdles this term. For many, he is the 'banker bet' of the Festival.

"We're looking forward to it," said O'Connell.

"There'll be plenty of pressure and nerves, I'm sure, but it's good pressure to have.

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"I'm sure we'll discuss tactics closer to the time. We'll walk the track and see how the ground ends up.

"The main thing is to get him into a rhythm and make sure he's happy, more so than anything else.

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