Hatch suffers fractures after Cheltenham fall

Ryan Hatch, who had been due to partner International Hurdle winner The New One, was said to be in good spirits on Saturday despite suffering serious injuries in a heavy fall at Cheltenham on Friday.

Hatch was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol after falling from Cogry in the feature Grade 3 handicap chase, where he was visited on Friday night by two of his closest friends, Sam and Willy Twiston-Davies.

"Ryan has fractured both sides of his sternum and he has a fracture in his back," said Sam Twiston-Davies.

"Myself and Willy went down to see him last night. He seems in really good heart.

"He's a great friend of all of ours. We hope we can get him back as quickly as possible, but more importantly being fit and healthy is the main thing."

Twiston-Davies added that he thought Hatch was going to have an operation on his back on Saturday, but the Injured Jockeys Fund later said no surgery had taken place.

In a statement the IJF said: "To clarify, Ryan Hatch remains in Bristol Southmead Hospital, where he is undergoing further examination for his injuries sustained at Cheltenham on Friday. He has not had an operation.

"Our job at the IJF is to provide accurate information on behalf of the jockey and his family in a timely and appropriate fashion. We will relay a further accurate update when there is one.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of The New One, added: "Ryan has a serious injury but he's going to be okay."