Thomas to miss Festival after suffering neck injury in fall

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

The Gold Cup-winning jockey sustained back and neck injuries and was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath following a schooling accident at first lot.

Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas is stable jockey, last night reported his injuries to be not as serious as first feared, but did confirm that he will not be riding at the Festival.

"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 next week," George said.

"He has suffered a crack to a vertebrae 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 obviously 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.

Meanwhile, dual winner Master Minded heads 14 possibles for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

The seven-year-old, trained by Nicholls, bids to emulate Badsworth Boy, who won the two-mile showpiece three times from 1983 to 1985.

Master Minded showed he had recovered from a rib injury with victory in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month – though he did give his supporters a scare when making a bad mistake at the final fence.

One of his main rivals next week looks like being stablemate Twist Magic, who has been in fine form this season after landing the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chase.

Free World, who carries the Clive Smith colours worn by Master Minded, is a third Nicholls' entry. Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King were respective first and second in the Arkle last March and have graduated from the novice ranks in great style this winter.

Big Zeb and Well Chief are seasoned campaigners, as is Newmill, winner of this race in 2006. Completing the acceptors are Barker, Cornas, Golden Silver, Mahogany Blaze, Oh Crick and Petit Robin.

Forpadydeplasterer's trainer Tom Cooper is confident his charge will make his presence felt, despite being off the track since finishing second in the Tingle Creek at Sandown on December.

"I am very happy with Forpadydeplasterer at the moment, he is fit, fresh and well," said Cooper.

"He had a setback but he is well over it now. We are going to Cheltenham without a run but I don't think that should be a problem.

"I think the Tingle Creek was a great effort on that ground – he had good horses behind him.

"On Wednesday, better ground will help him, without a doubt.

"He is a course and distance winner and he is going back there with a huge chance."