Jockey Adam Wedge to miss Cheltenham Festival after riding in four races with broken back after fall
ADAM WEDGE has been forced to sit out the Cheltenham Festival after fracturing a vertebrae in a fall last week… and still going on to ride the next day.
The Welshman will miss the plum ride on Champion Hurdle hope Silver Streak as well as Stayers’ Hurdle defending champ Lisnagar Oscar.
Wedge was unshipped at the last hurdle in a race at Newbury on Friday, and went on to ride four horses the next day at the same track.
But a scan on Monday revealed that might not have been wise and showed he sustained a fracture to his T12 vertebra.
Wedge had steered Silver Streak to his first Grade 1 when beating Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle and Evan Williams’ horse is as short as 12-1 to land another huge win in Tuesday’s feature Champion Hurdle.
He said: “It’s a hard blow to take, but it’s the way it is.
Most read in Horse Racing
“I had the fall on Friday and stupidly rode on Saturday, not knowing it was that serious.
“I went to hospital on Sunday morning and then I went down to London on Monday for an MRI scan, which revealed the injury.
“It’s going to be hard, missing out on riding Silver Streak, but it will still be fantastic to watch him run and see how he goes.
“I’ll most definitely be cheering him on.”
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10, get £50 in free bets (mobile only) – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets (£20 now, £20 during Cheltenham) – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £5 on racing, get £40 in free bets (£20 now, £20 during Cheltenham) – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. New customers who register via mobile only, using Promo code H50 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 5 x £10/€10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Betfair: Min stake £10, min odds 2.0 (Evs). Only deposits made using Cards or ApplePay will qualify. Free bets valid for 30 days, x1 £20 free bet awarded at bet settlement, x1 £20 awarded at 10am Mon 15th March. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New Customer Offer. Place a £5 single racing bet, min odds 1/5 (1.2) and get £20 in free bets. You will also get an additional £5 in free bets for each day of the Cheltenham festival (£40 in total). Only deposits made using cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. Free bets will be awarded after the qualifying bet has been settled and are valid for 30 days. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Wedge now faces a race against time to ride at Aintree next month, where his potential mounts include Randox Grand National contender Secret Reprieve, who could bid to follow up his Welsh Grand National success in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
He added: “The doctors reckon I could be back in around a month.
“I’m looking at being back for Aintree, if it’s possible. That’s the aim.”
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org