Late racing news and tips
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 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," 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 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.
HARRY Findlay rates odds-on favourites Dunguib, Master Minded, Big Buck's and Kauto Star as banker material at next week's Cheltenham Festival.
The big-hitting punter loves smashing into short-priced market leaders and believes the quartet have outstanding chances in their respective races.
Dunguib is the 4-5 favourite with totesport to get the Irish off to a flyer in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday, while Master Minded is 8-11 for a third win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase 24 hours later.
His Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Big Buck's is just 4-7 for a repeat win in Thursday's Ladbrokes World Hurdle with Kauto Star another shorter then even money in the Gold Cup on Friday.
Findlay, whose Denman will clash with Kauto Star, said: "I don't see any negative for any of the hotpots.
"All the good judges say Dunguib is the fastest thing they have seen.
"Ruby (Walsh) schooled Master Minded recently and said that so long as he doesn't fall off then he will win.
"Big Buck's is a certainty and it will take a phenomenal performance for anything to beat Kauto Star, although I hope he gets beaten a short head by Denman!"
Findlay and fellow part-owner Paul Barber will also have their colours carried by totesport's 9-2 favourite Alfie Sherrin in Thursday's Pertemps Final.
And Findlay predicts he could go off even shorter.
"I like horses who go against the grain. He took it up early at Newbury and was all over the place but he still bolted in," he added.
"They are very happy with him and if things stay the same then you can expect me to be lumping on."
TONY McCoy and Denman were reunited for the first time since they parted company at Newbury last month as the champion jockey schooled the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful at Paul Nicholls' Somerset yard.
Denman remains firmly on course for a rematch with Kauto Star at Cheltenham next Friday, although part-owner Harry Findlay believes the ten-year-old has his work cut out to repeat the epic 2008 win over his stablemate.
McCoy was called up to replace Sam Thomas for this year's renewal only for the partnership to be torn apart on their first meeting when the heavily odds-on Denman unseated his rider at the third-last fence in the Aon Chase.
Findlay said: "Denman jumped two hurdles, then two schooling fences and then two proper fences.
"He was good and aggressive over the first and then a little slower at the second when McCoy had to cajole him along.
"Some days you can watch him and not have him on your mind, but I would have given him nine out of ten.
"He was definitely keen enough when jumping, but Kauto is so ready for the race.
"He has been trained for this race all year and it will take a phenomenal performance for anything to beat Kauto Star."
After an interrupted season throughout 2008-9 due to a heart problem, Denman appeared back to his best when again defying top weight in the Hennessy at Newbury in November.
However, Findlay is of the opinion that was not the same Denman who destroyed the Gold Cup field two years ago with his aggressive front-running style.
He added: "The day we won the Gold Cup, Tony McCoy said that the race would leave its mark and that we needed to be careful with him.
"I spoke to him and he still thinks that.
"He might have won the Hennessy giving away two stone, but I don't think it was the same Denman who won the Gold Cup. He was on fire that day.
"We are unlikely to be so aggressive this time, but we had to do it then as it was the only way of beating Kauto Star."
Kauto Star is the 4-6 favourite with the sponsors while Denman is next best at 4-1.
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 Paul 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."
BRIAN O'Connell believes Dunguib's previous experience at Cheltenham will stand him in good stead for the 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 so far this term.
"We're looking forward to it. There'll be plenty of pressure and nerves, I'm sure, but it's good pressure to have," he said.
"All's well with the horse. I rode him out and he was fresh and well.
"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.
"He handled it last year and I can't see why he won't handle everything this year.
"He's normally on his toes in the parade ring. He can be very keen at times, but he is relaxing much better and relaxed pretty well in Leopardstown the last day.
"I was more happy and delighted that he relaxed. The fact that he's been to Cheltenham last year is a big plus with a big field.
"He has seen it all – the parade ring, the crowd and sampled the atmosphere.
"I'm sure the first race on a Tuesday will be more spectacular than the last race on a Wednesday
"He's been there and travelled over. He's a year older and more mature as well.
"I'm sure there are plenty of people waiting to see him run and I know some people see him as a banker.
"It would be great if he could win and get the Festival off to a good start."
O'Connell won the Bumper on Dunguib as an amateur but has since turned professional.
"To have Dunguib in my first season as a professional is a big help," he added.
"It's very competitive and there are some high-class riders out there. To have Dunguib is a big help for me as such."
UIMHIRACEATHAIR has been ruled out of next week's RSA Chase at Cheltenham after suffering a setback.
The eight-year-old was due to defend an unbeaten record over fences, having registered successes at Gowran and Navan, and had been as short as 10-1 for the Festival after impressing in a gallop at Leopardstown last month.
However, champion trainer Willie Mullins has confirmed his charge will not be heading to Prestbury Park.
The County Carlow handler said: "He's lame and he's not going to Cheltenham."
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