Darragh O'Keeffe has been ruled out of Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting and will miss racing for a brief period after sustaining an injury in a fall at Thurles on Thursday.
O'Keeffe, who took over as Henry de Bromhead's principal jockey following Rachael Blackmore's retirement, was scheduled to ride July Flower in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of four mounts lined up for Saturday. He was also booked to ride King's Bucks in Friday's Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices' Chase, though the horse was withdrawn shortly before midday due to unsuitable ground conditions.
Fall at Thurles
The jockey was unseated from Onefortheditch, having previously secured two victories earlier in the day. Claiming professional Conor Clarke is also out injured with a collar bone injury from a fall from Tir Og on the same card.
Medical update
Dr Jennifer Pugh, chief medical officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, issued a statement: "Darragh O'Keeffe was stood down following a fall at Thurles yesterday. He was talking and walking before being transferred to University Hospital Limerick where he remained overnight and received treatment for an abdominal injury.
"Darragh is in good spirits but will be out for a short period of time. Conor Clarke was also transferred to Limerick where he received treatment on a collar bone injury."
