Racing

McCoy to miss Punchestown

Champion jockey’s broken ribs rule him out of the festival

Tony McCoy was partnering the Nicky Henderson-trained Quantitativeeasing in the Barbury International Horse Trials Handicap Hurdle when the gelding stumbled at the second flight, throwing McCoy into the air. Photograph: David Davies/PA Wire
Tony McCoy was partnering the Nicky Henderson-trained Quantitativeeasing in the Barbury International Horse Trials Handicap Hurdle when the gelding stumbled at the second flight, throwing McCoy into the air. Photograph: David Davies/PA Wire
Fri Apr 19 2013 - 18:51

Tony McCoy will not ride at next week's Punchestown Festival after sustaining broken ribs in a fall at Cheltenham yesterday.

McCoy, who will pick up his 18th jockeys’ championship title next weekend, fell from Quantitativeeasing in the Barbury International Horse Trials Handicap Hurdle when Nicky Henderson’s inmate stumbled at the second flight.

Following assessment at the track, McCoy was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where X-rays revealed he had suffered broken ribs.

The jockey’s personal assistant Gee Bradburne said: “Following the fall from Quantitativeeasing yesterday at Cheltenham, AP McCoy remains in Gloucestershire Hospital and is still very sore.

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“He has broken a few ribs and was being accessed by the doctor when I spoke to him. Because of the discomfort, he is still under observation and the doctor will let him go home when he is happy with him. He will be too sore to ride at Punchestown next week.”

McCoy is now likely to spend a second night in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: “Mr McCoy is in a comfortable condition, however, it does not look like he will be released this evening.”

Meanwhile, Paul Carberry will be fit to ride at Punchestown despite giving up his rides at Wexford today. Carberry, who came back from injury just in time to ride Solwhit at Aintree, suffered a mishap when riding out in the morning.

His agent, Ciaran O’Toole, said: “He’s just a little bit stiff and thought it would be best to give it a miss. There’ll be no problem at all for Punchestown.”