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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Melissa Jones

Nick Scholfield taken to hospital after heavy Cheltenham fall from Last Royal

Nick Scholfield was taken to hospital after he took a heavy fall at Cheltenham's April Meeting.

The jockey came off Last Royal at the final flight of the Safran Handicap Hurdle, won by 16-1 shot Wbee. Sent off the 5-4 favourite, Last Royal led the field at a good pace, but he was weakening at the time of his departure.

The market leader, a full-brother to dual Unibet Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle, was eventually led back to the racecourse stables.

A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said: “Following assessment by the expert medical team on course, Nick Scholfield was conscious and transported to Royal Gloucestershire Hospital for further assessment. We extend our best wishes to Nick."

On Saturday, Scholfield finished fourth in the Grand National riding the Polly Gundry-trained Santini.

The 2020 Gold Cup second finished 24 lengths behind shock 50-1 scorer Noble Yeats, the first seven-year-old to take the first prize for 82 years. The final contest on Wednesday's seven-race card, the Cheltenham Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle, was delayed for the medical cover to get back into position.

Wbee was a first Cheltenham triumph for Gary Hanmer, who moved onto 31 winners during a career best season.

Stolen Silver (11-5f) rewarded favourite backers in the feature Grade 2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old reversed Cheltenham Festival form with Coole Cody – and pulled clear of Simply The Betts after a fine jump at the last fence.

Stolen Silver (centre) took the Grade 2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (PA)

“I think he’ll be a very similar type to Coole Cody in that he’ll run in these valuable handicaps and he’ll always give his running as he’s a good and sound jumper and he tries hard," jockey Sam Twiston-Davies said.

Pull Again Green (15-8f) kickstarted a double for Fergal O'Brien in the Citipost Novices' Hurdle. A novicey jump at the final obstacle did not halt his momentum under the Paddy Brennan drive.

Liam Harrison's Captain Cattistock (15-2) then produced a stronger finishing effort than Mister Malarky in the closing stages of the Weatherite Handicap Chase.

“What a day, we’re really chuffed and it’s a shame Ferg is not here, he’s with his family in Ireland," his partner and assistant trainer Sally Randell said. "He’d have loved to have been here and I’m pleased to take the prizes back for the whole yard."

Isabel Williams added a first Cheltenham triumph to her growing list of achievements in the Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle. The link-up with the 24-year-old has changed the fortunes of Bold Plan, as the 6-1 shot raced to a hat-trick.

“He’s always been talented, but he’d definitely lost his way with the boys and it was definitely one last roll of the dice to try Isabel on him and luckily, it’s clicked," her father and trainer Evan Williams said.

"Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and it has in this instance.”

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