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Thomas has nasty schooling fall.

Sam Thomas is reported to have taken a bad fall during 'first lot' schooling at Paul Nicholls's Ditcheat gallop early this morning. He was then flown by air ambulance to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with suspected back and neck injuries.

However, a later statement from Tom George's yard, where Thomas is stable jockey, suggests the jockey does not appear to have suffered any broken bones, but he is apparently bruised and badly shaken, and there is now much doubt as to whether he will be able to ride at next week's cheltenham Festival.

Masterminded heads the remaining fourteen acceptors.

As he attempts to equal the three consecutive victories achieved by Badsworth Boy between 1983 and 1985, Masterminded will currently have to defeat thirteen rivals in this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Looking at his two stable mates - Twist Magic and Free World - the former looks a really tough opponent on this season's form, having already won the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chases.

The first and second in the 2009 Arkle Trophy - Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King - are both reported to be in great shape, and Big Zeb and Well Chief are seasoned chasers who are capable of causing a comparative upset if they can repeat their top form in this season's race.

The remaining contendors for the 2010 two mile blue-ribbon chase include; Barker, Cornas, Golden Silver, Petit Robin, Mahogany Blaze, Oh Crick, and 2006 winner New Mill.

Setback puts Uimhiraceathair out of RSA Chase.

The williem Mullins trained Uimhiraceathair has been ruled out of next week's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival due to a late setback.

Unbeaten over fences, the eight-year-old had recorded victories at Gowran Park and Navan, and was as short as 10/1 in places for the RSA Chase following an impressive gallop at Leopardstown last month.

A disappointed Willie Mullins was quite short in his statement of fact:

"He's lame and he's not going to Cheltenham."

Conversely, Nicky Henderson has reported Punchestowns has completely recovered from the mystery muscle problem he suffered a week ago, and he will definitely be joining Long Run in this year's RSA Chase line-up.

In the same interview, Nicky Henderson indicated he was extremely happpy with Barber Shop aheadof the Ryanair Chase, and he is very hopeful the trip and good ground will be the catalysts to provide Her Majesty the Queen with a Cheltenham winner.

Pipe disappointed as Hunterview misses the cut.

Over the years, the Pipe family have trained eight winners of the Imperial Cup, but after David Pipe's anti post favourite Hunterview missed today's cut for Saturday's renewal at Sandown, the Pipe yard will now be without a runner.

The maximum field of 24 will be headed in the weights by Charlie Mann's Katies Tutor, but conscious of the competitive nature of the race, the trainer has booked Peter Toole to take 5 pounds off the back of the top weight during the race.

After fretting if Qaspal would make the cut, the J P Mcmanus team are delighted he has qualified for the race, and having viewed his previous wins at Kempton and Sandown, the punters have now made the Philip Hobbs trained gelding the new anti post favourite to complete his hat-trick in the Imperial Cup.

Paul Nicholls is very hopeful Pepe Simo will benefit from the better ground at Sandown, while Pistolet Noir is on a salvage run after his last two outings.

McCoy impressed with Binocular work-out.

Fourteen time Champion Jockey Tony McCoy put Binocular through a 13 hurdle work out at Nicky Henderson's Uper lambourn schooling area on Wednesday, and Mccoy later reported the six-year-old seemed sharper than he had been all season. But as a note of caution, McCoy also reported,

"Nicky Henderson advises me Binocular will be given a work-out again on Friday, and he w ill only be allowed to run in the Champion Hurdle if he comes through that exercise with flying colours."

Emmet Mullins seeking second opinion.

Following a heavy fall from Mystic Mayfly in a Naas maiden hurdle on Wednesday afternoon, promising young jockey Emmet Mullins was taken to Naas hospital, where x-rays suggested he may have broken a rib. But Mullins is not convinced, and wanting to ride a couple of good horses like Quiscover Fontaine at next week's Cheltenham Festival, he has decided to see a specialist on Friday morning in the hope of obtaining a definite diagnosis.

Loosen My Load misses Cheltenham.

Despite winning a Grade 2 race at Cheltenham in November, Henry de Bromhead's promising novice hurdler Loosen My Load is to miss next week's Cheltenham Festival. Having started his Bumper campaign last summer, the handler decided to give his charge a mid season braek, and de Bromhead reports,

"It has taken longer than anticipated to bring Loosen My Load back to racing fitness, and he will therefore miss Cheltenham. He should be fit in time to run at Fairyhouse over Easter, and then he should still be fresh for the Punchestown Festival."

Hayes suffers rapid double loss of European imports.

Australian owner/trainer David Hayes has suffered the tragic loss of two of his best European imports in just 24 hours.

Aidan O'Brien's former inmate Changingoftheguard, who finished second to Sesenta in last year's Ebor, suffered a ruptured bowel during a routine gelding operation and could not be saved. Then six-year-old Oh Aqaleem, formerly known in Britain as Aqaleem, and who was third behind Authorised in the Epsom Derby, broke down during a routine training session on his Australian gallops and had to be euthanised.

Both horses were due to compete in this year's Melbourne Cup, and there loss will be a major blow to a stable who always aim to take first prize in Australia's premier race.

Salut Flo by-passes Imperial Cup.

As suggested by trainer David pipe earlier in the week, his french import Salut Flo will miss this Saturday's Imperial Cup at Sandown in favour of a run at Cheltenham next week.

Salut Flo had started his British campaign with an impressive 12 length win at Doncaster, and on the strength of that run he had been made second favourite in the Imperial Cup anti post market when it opened on Monday, but with only a 5 pound hike for his Doncaster win, David Pipe has decided to keep him back for the Cheltenham Festival, and it is understood he will go for either the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase next Thursday, or the Johnnie Henderson Grand Annual Chase next Friday.

Bolger and Mcmanus could actually have some opposition.

Trainer Enda Bolger and owner J P Mcmanus have made the Glenfarclas Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival their private domain in recent years, and with Garde Champetre going for his third successive win in the race on the same top weight terms of 11 stone 12 pounds as he carried to victory last year, then they appear to have a head start for this year's renewal, particularly as Enda Bolger has disclosed Garde Champetre goes into the race in 'outstanding condition'.

However, the owner trainer combination have plenty more ammunition up their sleeve for Tuesday's unique three mile seven furlong cross country course, for they are also represented in this year's race by 2009 second and third placed horses L'Ami and Drombeag, and for extra measure, they also have Freneys Well and Heads onthe Ground to represent their combined interests.

But the usual winning team could face some major opposition this year, for Henry de Bromhead's Sizing Australia managed the runner's up spot behind Garde Champetre in his first run over Cheltenham's cross country course in December, and trainer de Bromhead is very happy with the condition of his representative ahead of next week's race.

Monkerhostin has already proved at Sandown this season he retains his will to win, and he could be a major challenger on his cross country debut. While 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch should get the trip on Tuesday, and if he retains some of his old ability he could also be of interest

Cornish Set, Priests Leap and Lacdoudal also have claims if they run up to their best form.

Debenhams and Channel 4 team up for the Festival.

High Street department store Debenhams are turning up the fashion stakes at next week's Cheltenham Festival when they dress the entire Channel 4 team in their finest designs for the 4 day extravaganza.

The worlds of fashion and horsracing being so interlinked, watching the racing is only half the fun, and between races many eyes will be on the presenters and their outfits as they broadcast to audiences regularly reaching 2 million per day.

Commenting on the arrangement, Debenhams PR Manager Ruth Attridge said,

"We are delighted to be dressing the Channel 4 racing team on the occasion of one of the nation's most adored horse racing festivals, and we look forward to seeing the results of our collabaration during next week's television coverage. With fashion and millinery from top designers including; Pip Hackett, Jasper Conran, and Julien Macdonald, we can't guarantee you'll back a winner, but you'll be dressed for the occasion - whether it be for Royal Ascot, or a family day out at Newcastle."

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