Dougie Costello looks set to miss this week's Cheltenham Festival after suffering a bad leg injury in a fall at Stratford.
Costello fell from Veiled Applause three flights from home in the Daily Nicholls Festival Column On Betfair Handicap Hurdle and was taken to Warwick Hospital.
Costello was due to partner leading fancy Recession Proof in the curtain-raiser, the Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while his potential mounts later in the week included Wayward Prince in the RSA Chase and Midnight Chase in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
John Quinn, trainer of Veiled Applause and Recession Proof, had earlier saddled a winner at Stratford, with Costello guiding Palawi to victory in the juvenile hurdle.
Quinn is devastated for Costello and will not make a decision on his replacement on Recession Proof until raceday.
He said: "They are fairly sure he has suffered at least one serious fracture to a part of his leg, if not two. It's terrible news."
Midnight Chase's trainer Neil Mulholland, an ex-jockey himself, is also full of sympathy for Costello and will not rush into announcing a replacement.
"I'm not going to make any decisions. It's a long way between now and Friday and it's something that has to be very carefully thought about," said Mulholland.
"The horse is perfect, thank goodness. Dougie came down and schooled him and we were all very happy with him, but I'm gutted for Dougie."
Posts
