Cheltenham Festival in brief: Carberry in hospital after serious fall

Published on Thursday 12 March 2009 22:22

PAUL Carberry suffered a punctured lung after falling from Jaamid in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Carberry had been due to ride Star De Mohasion for Paul Nicholls in today's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Timmy Murphy will now take the mount. The Irishman has been detained in hospital and his injuries are so severe that he could miss the John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree next month.

Bookies well ahead in punters turf war

DAY three of the Cheltenham Festival firmly belonged to the bookies. With two odds-on shots – Voy Pur Estedes (4-5) and Kasbah Bliss (10-11) – turned over in the big races, punters were left facing an uphill battle to claw back their losses on the final day. Labrokes spokesman David Williams said: "We arrived at the course fearing the worst but are leaving with a smile. To get one odds-on favourite beaten was welcome. To get them both beaten was fantastic."

Walsh out of sight in top jockey stakes

BOOKMAKERS Paddy Power have already paid out on Ruby Walsh being crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival with a full day to go after he rode his fifth winner yesterday, three clear of his nearest rival. Paddy Power said: "We're paying out about 50,000 on Ruby as top jockey but this is almost irrelevant as to what he has cost us this week. You'd want to be adding a few zeros to that."