Jockey Sam Thomas was today airlifted to hospital after a fall at Paul Nicholls' yard.
Thomas, who partnered Denman to Gold Cup victory in 2008, has been pencilled in to ride Tricky Trickster for Nicholls in the Gold Cup at next week's Festival.
He was riding Nicholls' Arkle hope Woolcombe Folly in a schooling session with Chapoturgeon, who was partnered by Tony McCoy, fell heavily at the last of six fences.
The trainer immediately summoned an air ambulance, which landed on the grass schooling gallop above Ditcheat village 10 minutes later. It took almost half an hour to stabilise the jockey, who never lost consciousness but had clearly been seriously injured, before he could be rushed to hospital in Bath.
A visibly shaken Nicholls told racingpost.com: "You know when a jockey has suffered a bad fall, and I'm afraid this was bad."
Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas is stable jockey, said: "I've spoken to his girlfriend, who has been allowed to talk to him.
"Initial X-rays have shown that there are no broken bones. He's very stiff and sore but we are very hopeful there is no serious damage.
"The next 24 hours will tell us more."
A hospital spokeswoman said: "Sam Thomas is conscious and able to talk. He has had a number of x-rays and is currently awaiting a CT scan and other diagnostic tests."
