CHELTENHAM Festival-winning jockey Jordan Gainford is set for a spell on the sidelines after fracturing his T5 and T6 vertebrae in a fall at Naas on Thursday.

The talented young rider took a heavy spill from the Moses McCabe-trained Derridae in a handicap chase this week, leading to racing being delayed for a period while he received medical attention and was transferred to Tallaght Hospital.

Speaking to The Irish Field yesterday, Gainford’s agent Garry Cribbin said: “Unfortunately Jordan fractured his T5 and T6.

“It’s obviously a shame for him but thankfully he’s back home in Wexford already and is in good spirits.”

The injury comes at a frustrating time for the Grade 1-winning rider ahead of the busy Christmas period of racing. He is the regular rider of Hewick, who is under consideration for either the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton or Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Christmas schedule

Next week’s edition of The Irish Field will be in shops on Sunday, December 24th. The bumper paper will include previews and racecards for the major Christmas Festival action in Britain and Ireland.